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Online petition gains steam after three years

Nearly four weeks after the Virginia Beach Municipal Center shooting, there is new steam behind a petition calling for Virginia Beach city employees to carry guns.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A three-year-old online petition is gaining new steam.

Nearly four weeks after the Virginia Beach Municipal Center shooting, people are visiting and signing an online petition that calls for Virginia Beach city employees to be able to defend themselves at work by carrying guns.

The petition on Change.org is called "Allow Employees of Virginia Beach to Defend their Lives During Workplace Violence." It calls for licensed and trained employees to be able to defend their lives with the same force an active shooter would use.

The creator, Vincent Smith, wrote that he has no words to express his regret for not continuing to push the petition three years ago. Smith said he works in Building 2 where a city employee killed 12 people on May 31.

Supporters of the petition are leaving comments. 

One person said if he had his weapon, he could have helped. 

Another supporter commented that she is a current city employee who worked in Building 2.

Most supporters share the same sentiment, everyone has the right to protect themselves.

The new push for the petition comes two weeks before the Virginia General Assembly is scheduled to hold a special session to discuss gun legislation.

Not everyone agrees though.

Virginia Beach City Council recently discussed a proposal for municipalities to have the ability to ban guns from city buildings, giving cities more control.

Mayor Bobby Dyer told 13NEWS NOW the gun discussion is necessary, but right now it's too soon to act.

He said he's worried the city will become more polarized rather than united.

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