April 2, 2018

The Hon. Sharon S. Bulova The Hon. Jeffrey C. Mckay

Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Member, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
Government Center Franconia Governmental Center
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 530 6121 Franconia Road
Fairfax, VA 22035-0079 Alexandria, VA 22310-2508

The Hon. Penelope A. Gross The Hon. Daniel G. Storck

Member, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Member, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
Mason District Governmental Center Mount Vernon Governmental Center
6507 Columbia Pike 2511 Parkers Lane
Annandale, VA 22003-2029 Alexandria, VA 22306-2799

The Hon. John C. Cook The Hon. Linda Q. Smyth

Member, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Member, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
Kings Park Library Providence Community Center
9002 Burke Lake Road 3001 Vaden Drive
Burke, VA 22015-1608 Fairfax, VA 22031

The Hon. John W. Foust The Hon. Pat Herrity

Member, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Member, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
McLean Governmental Center West Springfield Governmental Center
1437 Balls Hill Road 6140 Rolling Road
McLean, VA 22101 Springfield, VA 22152-1579

The Hon. Catherine M. Hudgins The Hon. Kathy L. Smith

Member, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Member, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
North County Governmental Center Sully District Governmental Center
1801 Cameron Glen Drive 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard
Reston, VA 20190 Chantilly, VA 20151-3808

Re: Banning loaded firearms on highways

Dear Madame Chairman and Hon. Supervisors:

Section 15.2-915.2 of the Code of Virginia gives all local governments in Virginia the authority to
ban loaded shot guns and loaded rifles on public highways.

§ 15.2-915.2. Regulation of transportation of a loaded rifle or shotgun.

April 2, 2018
Page 2 of 3

The governing body of any county or city may by ordinance make it unlawful for any
person to transport, possess or carry a loaded shotgun or loaded rifle in any vehicle on
any public street, road, or highway within such locality.

A similar ordinance has been enacted in the counties of Fauquier, Loudoun, Madison,
Albemarle, Chesterfield, Clarke, James City, King George, New Kent, Northumberland, Surry, Warren and
the cities of Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Petersburg, Richmond, Roanoke, Virginia Beach, and
Williamsburg.

We, members of the Virginia General Assembly representing Fairfax County, do not believe that
there is a need for loaded shotguns or loaded rifles on Fairfax County's public roads. High emotions that
come with traffic congestion in our region have led to instances where firearms have been discharged in
incidents of road rage. Requiring that shotguns and rifles are not loaded at the beginning of a trip will
help to reduce the potential for such split-second, life-changing decisions to occur in a moment of anger.
Such an ordinance will also help to protect the driver and passengers, including children, as well as law
enforcement from the accidental discharge of one of these weapons. For example, in 2006, Virginia
State Trooper Kevin C. Manion was killed after a loaded rifle went off during a wreck cleanup in Clark
County.

We recognize that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors considered this issue in 2015.
However given recent events, we believe that it is important at this time for all our localities to use their
existing authority to foster gun safety and protect the driving public.

We hereby ask that you initiate the processes necessary to change Fairfax County's ordinances
to prohibit the transportation of loaded shotguns and loaded rifles to the fullest extent possible under
Virginia Law.
We look forward to working with you on this important initiative.

Sincerely,

Senator Scott A. Surovell Senator Richard L. Saslaw

36th District 35th District

Senator Barbara A. Favola Senator David W. Marsden

31st District 37th District

Senator Jennifer T. Wexton Senator George L. Barker

33rd District 39th District
April 2, 2018
Page 3 of 3

Delegate Kaye Kory Delegate Mark H. Levine

38th District 45th District

Delegate Mark L. Keam Delegate Richard C. Sullivan, Jr.

35th District 48th District

Delegate Kenneth R. Plum Delegate Alfonso H. Lopez

36th District 49th District

Delegate David L. Bulova Delegate Marcus B. Simon

37th District 53rd District

Delegate Vivian E. Watts Delegate Karrie K. Delaney

39th District 67th District

Delegate Kathy KL Tran Delegate Jennifer B. Boysko

42nd District 86th District

Delegate Paul E. Krizek

44th District