Weapons meeting ban receives initial approval(WY)

trib.com ^ | 2 November, 2011 | Joshua Wolfson

[marktwain]

An ordinance banning people from openly carrying guns at Casper city meetings received initial approval Tuesday from the City Council.

After more than two hours of debate, the council voted 6-3 in favor of the ordinance, which would make it illegal to bring a deadly weapon to any city meeting.

Two more votes are required before the ordinance would become law. The council will discuss when to hold the next vote on Monday.

Council members who supported the measure said they wanted people to attend city meetings without feeling threatened by others.

“I don’t want to see intimidation in public debate,” said Ward 1 representative Kate Sarosy.

Some spoke about feeling threatened because of their position. Councilwoman Kenyne Schlager noted that Mayor Paul Bertoglio received concerning emails after the council began discussing a possible gun ban.

Schlager said she’s received received hate mail and threats.

“When I couple that with the statement of being ‘tired of government,’ to me I feel we have trouble brewing,” she said. “And personally, I want to head that off.”

Bertoglio joined council members Maury Daubin and Keith Goodenough in opposing the ordinance.

Goodenough said there was no evidence that anyone has ever caused problems by carrying a gun at a city meeting. Arguments about intimidation also failed to move him.

“When it comes to intimidation, people around here have a pretty thin skin,” he said.

Daubin wanted to postpone a decision until after the Legislature had an opportunity to consider the issue. He said the issue needed a uniform solution, but added that he would probably support the ordinance if the Legislature doesn’t act next session.

“Part of our duty is to encourage public debate, and there are people who are offended and fearful of the presence of a gun,” he said.

[marktwain]

The best reason to carry a gun to meetings like this is to show that you are a citizen, you have constitutional rights that the government cannot take from you, and that the government serves the citizen, not the other way around.

The article seems to have a decidedly anti-gun slant. I suspect that there was much more opposition than what is shown. If any freeper was in attendance, it would be nice to get a report from them.

[coloradan]

If people felt intimidated by blacks showing up at city council meetings, would it be appropriate to ban them, too?

[CPOSharky]

“When it comes to intimidation, people libtards around here have a pretty thin skin,” he said.

There, fixed it.

[Gilbo_3]

members who supported the measure said they wanted people to attend city meetings without feeling threatened by others.

so an unarmed person with an opposing voice is naturally less threatened in a room full of union thugs or black panthers ???

[DJ MacWoW]

Wake Up And Donate!

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Let's Make The Bar Yellow!

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After more than two hours of debate

in which no one was shot despite no ban...