Briefly… for Jan. 3-16, 2012
Morrissey pushing for weapon ban
Del. Joe Morrissey, who represents Charles City County in the General Assembly, plans to introduce a bill to ban the sale of both assault style weapons as well as large capacity magazines in the upcoming session.
“The Federal Assault Weapons Ban (FAWB), expired on Sept. 13, 2004. Despite multiple attempts to renew such bans, no federal bill to restore the ban has reached the floor of the United States Senate or House of Representatives,” said Morrissey in a press release.
Noting what he termed “glacier-like” movement in Congress, he said, “Virginia should not wait for Congress to act. Virginia needs to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines during the 2013 General Assembly session.”
Morrissey said New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and California have existing bans on assault style/semi-automatic weapons.
Referencing the recent tragedies at Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, and now Newton, Conn., Morrissey added, “Lets do something today; the time to act is now.”
Morrissey said weapons including the Intratec-DC9, Yugoslavian M-70, AK-47, Colt AR-15, and Uzi, all of which carry large capacity ammunition magazines, have no place other than on the battlefield.
“I’m tired of hearing some folk claim that law abiding sportsman need these weapons,” he said. “How is it ‘sport’ to go out and shoot Bambi using an assault rifle and accompanying 50 cartridge magazine?”
Morrissey is highly critical of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposal that “a reasonable discussion needs to be had about allowing school officials to be armed inside public schools.”
“That’s ridiculous,” said Morrissey, “The answer is not to arm our administrators and teachers, but rather, ban these hideous weapons.”
Heritage Library closing for upgrade
Both the New Kent and Charles City branches of Heritage Public Library will be closed the week of Jan. 21 for installation of a new integrated library system.
Library personnel will be implementing a new inventory system that includes how the library catalogs and adds new books and checks out books to patrons.
Charles City boat ramp opens Feb. 1
Charles City County’s boat ramp at Lawrence Lewis Jr. Park has an official opening date– Feb. 1. County planning director Matt Rowe made the announcement during county supervisors’ Dec. 20 meeting.
Non-residents of Charles City will be charged $10 to use the ramp, while residents will have free access. Rowe also announced the fishing pier at the park would reopen to the public at the end of December.
NK hit-and-run under investigation
A hit-and-run incident in New Kent that hospitalized a pedestrian is under investigation by the county’s sheriff’s office.
The male victim, who was not identified, told investigators he was walking on Route 33 in Eltham just west of the Farmer’s Drive intersection around 5 a.m. on Dec. 3 when he was struck by a passing vehicle. The victim then made his way to a 7-Eleven store, located a half-mile away, from where New Kent Fire-Rescue was notified. The victim suffered serious injuries, including a ruptured spleen, which required hospitalization.
Anyone with information about the incident should call the sheriff’s office at 966-9500 to speak with investigating officer Deputy Kris Burnette or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.
Richmond man arrested for theft
A Richmond man is facing charges in connection with a November theft at a residence in New Kent County.
Bret Cole Dunham, 30, of the 3800 block of Thompson Street, is charged with one count each of felony grand larceny and larceny with intent to sell along with misdemeanor entering property with intent to damage. Sgt. Brandon Jenkins arrested the suspect on Dec. 10.
Dunham is accused of entering a residence on Holly Hills Road in the Nov. 15-17 time frame and stealing jewelry. He was being held in jail without bond.