I just provided the following to the Madison County Fair Board via the fair's "contact us" feature.
Good afternoon members of the Madison County Fair Board,
As I was browsing the fair's website I read the Madison County Fair's general rules for entry and noticed that it appeared that the County Fair Board is either unaware that it may run afoul of Code of Virginia with regard to the carrying of firearms on county property, or it is blatantly disregarding the Code and hoping to get away with it. I hope that the situation is the prior and not the latter.
Specifically, the rules section makes this rule:
"5. No alcohol, drugs or weapons of any kind are permitted on the Grounds, including parking areas."
Any attempt by the Madison County Fair Board or any county, city or other official to regulate the carrying of firearms on county owned property is specifically prohibited in the Code of Virginia Section 15.2-915 (
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+15.2-915 ). Attempted enforcement of the Madison County Fair Rule on county property puts the Fair Board, law enforcement officials and any others involved at significant jeopardy of violating the rights of visitors and exposes the officials to both civil and criminal liability for attempting to enforce an invalid rule under color of law.
Please consider this as notice that a portion of Madison County Fair general entry rule #5 is likely in violation of the Code of Virginia if the fairgrounds are county property. I am sure that as responsible representatives of Madison County and its residents you will ensure that the county and its taxpayers are not exposed to criminal and civil penalties as a result of a county fair rule. Please let me know how the Madison County Fair Board will resolve this issue such that fair visitors are not unlawfully detained and such that the fair is not in violation of the Code of Virginia Section 15.2-915.
Thank you for your diligent attention in this matter,
jmelvin
Lynchburg, VA
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