The father of one of the students killed during the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, two years ago has called for the resignation of a local city council member in Virginia after seeing him show up to a government meeting with an AR-15 strapped to his chest.

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter, Jaime, was killed during the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, tweeted that Portsmouth councilman Nathan Clark should resign for his behaviour.

Mr Clark had shown up with the gun on Tuesday night, where he voted in favour of a resolution to declare Portsmouth a Second Amendment constitutional city. In a letter Mr Clark brought to the meeting, he claimed he wore the weapon because he was a law enforcement officer and that he wanted to make a point about responsible firearm ownership.

“Councilman Nathan Clark resign,” Mr Guttenberg tweeted. “Citizens you represent should not be forced to accept him engaging in open intimidation with his AR-15.”

He continued, referencing a letter Mr Clark wrote explaining he planned no harm to anyone with his firearm: “You gun lunatic, in spite of your letter, nobody knows your intent. My daughter did not know someone carrying an AR-15 would kill her.”

March for Our Lives – in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 March for Our Lives – in pictures March for Our Lives – in pictures Demonstrators chant during the protest for gun legislation and school safety AP March for Our Lives – in pictures Trevon ‘Tre’ Bosley, 19, of Chicago, the brother of Terrell Bosley who was killed in 2006 in a case of mistaken identity, speaks during the rally AP March for Our Lives – in pictures Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Delaney Tarr speaks at the rally AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Protestors line the streets in Washington Getty Images March for Our Lives – in pictures People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Protestors carrying placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Protestors hold up placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Schoolchildren wear targets ahead of the rally Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Attendees congregate in preparation for the march Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Students brought a host of innovative placards AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures The movement’s main demand is the banning of assault rifles Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Since the Florida shooting, students have called for urgent gun reform AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures In the wake of the Florida attack, President Donald Trump called for teachers to be armed AFP/Getty

The contentious display in Portsmouth comes as communities across Virginia have rallied against gun control bills in Richmond, which Democrats in control of the state legislature and governor’s mansion favour.

It also comes just a month before the second anniversary of the shooting in Parkland, which killed Jaime and 16 other people, including 13 fellow students. Three administrators were killed killed alongside those students in that shootout on Valentine’s Day.

The trial for the alleged gunman, Nikolas Cruz, is expected to begin later this month, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty for the former classmate who opened fire on the school.