"A small sign at the entrance to the Main Street Library in Hilton Village makes it clear that shouting, sleeping and chewing tobacco are taboo within the building.

The rules also include weapons.

But the Virginia Citizens Defense League has informed the City Council that a firearm ban in the city's libraries breaks Virginia Code 15.2-915, which prevents cities or its agencies from making rules on carrying guns in public places. Exceptions include courthouses and in or around schools.

'We're a nation of laws,' said Philip Van Cleave, defense league president. 'You can't ignore laws. To do so is to act like any other criminal.'

The defense league has held meetings throughout the state in libraries, Van Cleave said, and members haven't left their weapons at the front desk.

Van Cleave said he has never heard of problems with law-abiding gun owners carrying guns into libraries and other public places. Gun owners, he contends, are actually ideal to have around children in case of an emergency.

But some library patrons and city officials believe books and guns are a bad combination.

'I wouldn't visit the library if I knew it was likely that a person could have a gun in here,' said Casey Harris, taking a break from helping 9-year-old Mallory with her homework. 'I feel safe and protected here.'

Councilman William Haskins, borrowing a line of logic from a 12-year-old library patron, asked: 'This is a library. People come here to read. Why would they need a gun?'

'The issue is how do we regulate weapons but not regulate firearms,' said Rich Kaplan, a lawyer in the city attorney's Office.

Kaplan, who is researching the issue and plans to help bring a recommendation to the City Council in a few weeks, agrees with the league that state law prevents a ban on guns in the library.

Van Cleave said the league will keep a close eye on the matter.

If the City Council settles on a compromise that would disallow guns in the library, the defense league would likely file a lawsuit, he said." (Associated Press, September 24, 2006)