In office , Buckley fought to relax zoning restrictions in Annapolis 's City Dock area to match those in the West Street area where his restaurants operated , a move he argued was necessary to revitalize economic activity in " the best real estate that the city has " . He introduced legislation to do so in a City Council meeting in May of 2018 , where it was rejected after historic preservationist opponents raised concerns about losing the area 's designation as a National Historic Landmark District and pointed out that a " cultural landscape study " mandated by the city 's master plan for the area was still underway . Buckley announced his intention to reintroduce the legislation with more sponsors after the study had been completed , and in June the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the district one of " America 's Most Endangered Historic Places . " Buckley was in office during the Capital Gazette shooting on June 28 , 2018 , in which five people were killed at a local newspaper 's office . In the aftermath , Buckley requested a federal proclamation allowing flags to be flown at half-mast ; he told the press on July 2 that the administration of President Donald Trump — who had repeatedly described press members as " enemies of the people " — had denied the request . Trump 's press secretary , Sarah Huckabee Sanders , called Buckley later that day ; on the following day , the White House issued the requested proclamation , saying Trump had ordered it as soon as he learned of Buckley 's petition . In the wake of the shooting , Buckley called for stronger gun control , blaming the U.S. 's National Rifle Association for opposing legislation restricting gun sales to certain people with mental illnesses , such as the accused Capital Gazette shooter , and suggested looking into gun buyback programs such as those enacted in Australia
Capital Gazette shooting
Capital Gazette shooting
Gavin Buckley