A Roanoke judge has delayed the lawsuit filed by gun rights advocates seeking to overturn a city ordinance that prohibits firearms in public buildings and parks. The ruling by Circuit Judge David Carson puts the case on hold until at least December while awaiting a decision from a federal appeals court considering a comparable case in Fairfax County, a move the city argues will conserve judicial resources.
The 2021 ordinance makes it a misdemeanor to carry firearms in designated public areas, punishable by fines up to $2,500 and a year in jail. Critics of the law, represented by the Virginia Citizens Defense League and other gun rights groups, claim it infringes upon their constitutional rights. They argue that the delay could extend the legal battle into 2026 or beyond, potentially limiting their opportunity to challenge the ordinance in a timely manner.
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