Hundreds expected to attend second amendment sanctuary meeting in Lynchburg

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) -- Advocates for Lynchburg becoming a 'Second Amendment Sanctuary' will get the opportunity to speak their mind at a Lynchburg City Council public hearing Tuesday night at E.C. Glass High School.

Lynchburg Police said they have a security plan in place.

The meeting was moved to the high school due to the presumed high amount of people who plan to attend.

**WATCH LIVE BELOW**

City Manager BonnieSvrcek made the decision to move the meeting from city council chambers after learning of a potential parade/protest around City Hall.

RELATED | Second Amendment Sanctuary petition urges action from Lynchburg City Council

City Council held a meeting in December, but decided to hold a public hearing this month so everyone who wants to, can voice their opinion. Supporters filled the entire council chamber as well as the overflow room on the second floor.

The meeting will be televised on LTV and streamed live on Facebook.

Anyone who wants to address City Council needs to sign up to speak before the beginning of the meting. A signup sheet will be available in the lobby of E.C. Glass High School at 6 p.m. and will stay up until the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.

Those who sign up will need to provide their name and locality of residency and whether they are speaking as an individual or representing a group.

Individuals will be given three minutes to speak and speakers representing a group will be given five minutes.

There are some important things to remember before going to the meeting:

• Possession of firearm, stun weapon, or other weapon on school property is prohibited, according to Virginia law.
• You need to enter the high school from the Langhorne Road side of the building; doors will open at 6 p.m.
• The school is handicapped accessible.
• Parking will be available at the school, and overflow parking will be available in The Plaza.
  

The decision to start declaring localities a 'Second Amendment Sanctuary' comes after Virginia Democrats took control of the General Assembly in the latest election. Governor Ralph Northam said he plans to pass stricter gun laws that include universal background checks, a "red flag" law, and restoring the longstanding "one handgun a month" law.

The resolution is not legally binding, but expresses the locality's intent that its public funds not be used to restrict Second Amendment rights.

RELATED | Proposed bill would limit indoor shooting ranges in Virginia

More than 100 counties, cities and towns have declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries and vowed to oppose any new "unconstitutional restrictions" on guns.

In Lynchburg, city council will have the ultimate decision. Lynchburg Mayor Treney Tweedy said she has gotten plenty of calls and emails about the meeting Tuesday night.

"We have heard from a lot of people on both sides of the debate," she said. "There are people who are for becoming a second amendment sanctuary city there are those who are opposed to it."

Councilman Turner Perrow says the public debate is necessary.

"People really need to express their views in a public area that allows us to make informed decisions," he said. "This is a very appropriate outlet that allows them to speak freely."

Councilman Jeff Helgeson has supported a public hearing on this issue and said council should be willing to listen to every opinion.

"I will be voting against tyranny, I'll be voting for our citizens and for our our citizens' rights," he said.

Mayor Tweedy said the entire council is prepared to listen to all of the citizens who sign up to speak.