Please Attend the Martinsburg City Council Meeting on Thursday, August 14!

In a direct violation of West Virginia’s preemption statutes, the Martinsburg City Council continues to publicly disregard state law by keeping a 2005 ordinance on the books.  The ordinance states, “(a) No person shall carry or possess a firearm or other deadly weapon, whether carried openly or concealed on any public property or in any building owned, leased, or under the care, custody, or control of the City of Martinsburg.” 

West Virginia’s preemption statutes dictate that only the State Legislature can enact laws pertaining to firearms.

The City Council will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 14 on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 232 N. Queen St., to discuss the ordinance and possible changes to it.  It is imperative that Martinsburg’s law-abiding gun owners attend and voice their disapproval of this violation of state law and their Second Amendment freedoms.

Please make plans to attend this important meeting.  If you are unable to attend, please contact the Mayor and City Council members TODAY and let them know that their actions have not gone unnoticed by law-abiding gun owners.  Contact information can be found below.

MAYOR: 

Mayor George Karos
(304) 267-8077

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS: 

Gregg Wachtel
(304) 263-7346

Richard Yauger
(304) 267-6058

Max Parkinson
(304) 263-3235

Roger Lewis
(304) 262-6168

Betty Gunnoe
(304) 263-9893

Dennis Etherington
(304) 267-4051

Rodney Woods
(304) 263-4286

On Thursday, August 14, the Martinsburg City Council passed an ordinance (#2008-26) banning the possession of firearms in any city-owned buildings.  A previous ordinance banned firearms on public property altogether. West Virginia law (§8-12-5a) strictly prohibits any municipality from passing any ordinance more stringent than current state law. 

The original ordinance passed in 2005, which is still on the books, is a direct violation of this statute. 

Please contact the Mayor and City Council members and urge them to repeal both of these ordinances.  Please click here to contact the council members.

MAYOR:

Mayor George Karos - (304) 267-8077

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Gregg Wachtel - (304) 263-7346

Richard Yauger - (304) 267-6058

Max Parkinson - (304) 263-3235

Roger Lewis - (304) 262-6168

Betty Gunnoe - (304) 263-9893

Dennis Etherington- (304) 267-4051

Rodney Woods- (304) 263-4286

Please Contact the Mayor and City Council Members Today!

Last Thursday, August 14, the Martinsburg City Council passed an ordinance (#2008-26) banning the possession of firearms in any city-owned buildings. This ordinance amended a previous ordinance passed in 2005.  The original ordinance banned the carrying of firearms openly or concealed on all city owned property.  The newly passed ordinance limits this ban to city owned buildings.  While an improvement over the original 2005 ordinance, these actions by the City Council are in clear violation of current state law that prohibits a municipality from passing any ordinance regulating firearms or ammunition in any manner. 

Please contact the Mayor and City Council members and encourage them to bring Martinsburg back into conformity with current state law and repeal these ordinances.