Desertdog
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City weapons law to follow state
http://www.columbustelegram.com/articles/2006/12/19/news/news3concealed.txt
By Adrian Sanchez/[email protected]
COLUMBUS - The City Council directed the city staff to amend a city ordinance and allow citizens to carry concealed handguns under the Nebraska Conceal Carry Handgun Act.
During the meeting Monday, the council voted 5-3, with councilmen Joe Jarecke, John Lohr and Chuck Whitney in opposition, to amend the current city ordinance by removing the words “pistol” and “revolver.”
The ordinance now reads: “It shall be unlawful for any person in the City, officers of the law
excepted, to carry concealed on or about his or her person any pistol, revolver, Bowie knife, dirk or knife with a dirk blade attachment, brass or iron knuckles or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.”
The act, LB 454, passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Dave Heineman will allow people to carry concealed handguns in Nebraska beginning Jan. 1, 2007. They would first have to qualify for a concealed-carry permit, which includes passing a background check and completing a firearms training and safety course approved by the Nebraska State Patrol.
Councilman Charlie Bahr amended his initial motion to revoke the current ordinance so it would just remove wording that referred to handguns. He expressed support for providing law-abiding citizens with an additional security afforded by law and to make city law congruent with the new state law.
Carrying a concealed handgun is “no different than an insurance policy or fire extinguisher in the car,” Bahr said. “You hope you never have to use it, but it is there if you do.”
City Administrator Joseph Mangiamelli and Columbus Police Chief William Gumm recommended the wording be amended rather than revoking the entire ordinance.
Mangiamelli said, “The best thing to do is to amend that section and remove the words revolver and pistol.”
Gumm said he still opposed allowing concealed handguns in Columbus, but by amending the city ordinance it would provide for an additional level of discretion by the county prosecutor should an incident occur.
“Yes, this is going to raise the level of difficulty” for local police officers, he said. “I just do not see crime at a level where a gun is needed for self-defense.”
Councilman John Lohr also expressed opposition because certain concerns have not been met.
“Domestic violence is not included” as disqualification for a permit, Lohr said, and “there is no requirement to re-qualify” once a permit has been obtained.
Councilman Chuck Whitney shared a personal story and said he believes no one should be allowed to carry a handgun except for law enforcement officers.
“I am not going to vote to allow someone ... to kill me anytime they want,” Whitney said.
Gumm said legally people may openly carry a handgun now, but it may draw attention to that person and they may have to talk with law enforcement regarding why they feel the need to carry. City ordinance allows provides an “affirmative defense” if someone is discovered carrying a concealed weapon.
Michael Jones, 2172 18th Ave., said the city should look at who is carrying and why and its decision should be based on the 46 other states that have implemented concealed carry laws.
Jones said he carries a weapon at night while managing a property and “it would be an “inconvenience” for him to have to use a holster to openly carry a handgun.
Mayor Mike Moser said even though a majority of the states allow concealed carry, according to Jones' citation, violent crime nationally went up.
Following the council's vote, Moser said the city should prepare an ordinance to amend the current city code as requested, and “for now I will let that stand.”
Although concealed carry permit applications will be accepted beginning Jan. 2, 2007, the amended ordinance, if supported and approved by the city council, would not change until, Feb. 20, 2007 at the earliest.
http://www.columbustelegram.com/articles/2006/12/19/news/news3concealed.txt
By Adrian Sanchez/[email protected]
COLUMBUS - The City Council directed the city staff to amend a city ordinance and allow citizens to carry concealed handguns under the Nebraska Conceal Carry Handgun Act.
During the meeting Monday, the council voted 5-3, with councilmen Joe Jarecke, John Lohr and Chuck Whitney in opposition, to amend the current city ordinance by removing the words “pistol” and “revolver.”
The ordinance now reads: “It shall be unlawful for any person in the City, officers of the law
excepted, to carry concealed on or about his or her person any pistol, revolver, Bowie knife, dirk or knife with a dirk blade attachment, brass or iron knuckles or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.”
The act, LB 454, passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Dave Heineman will allow people to carry concealed handguns in Nebraska beginning Jan. 1, 2007. They would first have to qualify for a concealed-carry permit, which includes passing a background check and completing a firearms training and safety course approved by the Nebraska State Patrol.
Councilman Charlie Bahr amended his initial motion to revoke the current ordinance so it would just remove wording that referred to handguns. He expressed support for providing law-abiding citizens with an additional security afforded by law and to make city law congruent with the new state law.
Carrying a concealed handgun is “no different than an insurance policy or fire extinguisher in the car,” Bahr said. “You hope you never have to use it, but it is there if you do.”
City Administrator Joseph Mangiamelli and Columbus Police Chief William Gumm recommended the wording be amended rather than revoking the entire ordinance.
Mangiamelli said, “The best thing to do is to amend that section and remove the words revolver and pistol.”
Gumm said he still opposed allowing concealed handguns in Columbus, but by amending the city ordinance it would provide for an additional level of discretion by the county prosecutor should an incident occur.
“Yes, this is going to raise the level of difficulty” for local police officers, he said. “I just do not see crime at a level where a gun is needed for self-defense.”
Councilman John Lohr also expressed opposition because certain concerns have not been met.
“Domestic violence is not included” as disqualification for a permit, Lohr said, and “there is no requirement to re-qualify” once a permit has been obtained.
Councilman Chuck Whitney shared a personal story and said he believes no one should be allowed to carry a handgun except for law enforcement officers.
“I am not going to vote to allow someone ... to kill me anytime they want,” Whitney said.
Gumm said legally people may openly carry a handgun now, but it may draw attention to that person and they may have to talk with law enforcement regarding why they feel the need to carry. City ordinance allows provides an “affirmative defense” if someone is discovered carrying a concealed weapon.
Michael Jones, 2172 18th Ave., said the city should look at who is carrying and why and its decision should be based on the 46 other states that have implemented concealed carry laws.
Jones said he carries a weapon at night while managing a property and “it would be an “inconvenience” for him to have to use a holster to openly carry a handgun.
Mayor Mike Moser said even though a majority of the states allow concealed carry, according to Jones' citation, violent crime nationally went up.
Following the council's vote, Moser said the city should prepare an ordinance to amend the current city code as requested, and “for now I will let that stand.”
Although concealed carry permit applications will be accepted beginning Jan. 2, 2007, the amended ordinance, if supported and approved by the city council, would not change until, Feb. 20, 2007 at the earliest.
