Radford Virginia was illegally banning firearms from city parks, and the Virginia Citizens Defense League took them to task for it. Under state law, Radford is not permitted to ban firearms from the park for concealed handgun permit holders, and effective in July, they will no longer be permitted to ban firearms carried openly. But despite not even having a law on the books to back up their ban, Radford was notably defiant when challenged by VCDL.

Assistant City Manager Bob Lloyd mailed a three-page reply saying the park is located near "a bank, a high school, a middle school, a recreation center with recreation fields adjacent to a grade school" on contiguous properties and the city has "no intention or inclination to remove the signs in the park."

Yes, city officials actually said that the park's proximity to a bank, school, and rec center gave them reason enough to break state law. But then again, they were only openly defiant until the Roanoke Times published a VCDL letter to the editor. Now, they seem to be changing their tune.

[Radford Mayor Tom] Starnes said he discussed the matter with City Manager Tony Cox and directed Cox to remove the sign or change the wording.

"I'm not sure that I'm in agreement with that, but that's the mayor's call," said City Councilman Dave Worrell. "I don't like people telling me what to do."

This, coming from a man who makes his living telling other people what to do.

Worrell said he had gotten eight or 10 e-mails about the sign, one or two directed to him personally and the rest copies of e-mails sent to the mayor.

"Whether you agree with the law or not, it has to be in compliance," Starnes said.

Kudos to the mayor for realizing that personal ideology is no excuse to violate the law.