HerrGlock
06-21-2008, 18:40
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080621/News01/806210315
South Bend gun ordinance postponed for more study
FOP has concerns about making all city property off limits, even to off-duty cops.
JAMIE LOO
Tribune Staff Writer
SOUTH BEND -- A measure that would have prohibited firearms on city property is on hold.
The Common Council originally planned to review a new version of the proposal Monday. The public hearings and vote are now postponed indefinitely. The council discussed the proposal at its last meeting but had concerns over the wording, fines and penalties in the ordinance.
Assistant city attorney Tom Bodnar has said that reviving the proposal stems from concerns that some city employees have been intimidated by angry residents carrying firearms into their offices.
The council passed a similar ordinance in 1994 that was superseded by state gun control laws passed later that year. In 2001, the issue came up again, but it was withdrawn by the city legal department before the council could vote on it.
Karen White, D-at large, council chairwoman of the health and public safety committee, said Wednesday the council needs to gather more input and study the ordinance more closely before taking action.
"We have always sought to properly weigh and balance constitutional rights, while protecting public health and safety," she said in a press statement.
The ordinance would have prohibited firearms on city property, with the exception of on-duty law enforcement officers and security guards under contract to protect the property. City buildings would have to conspicuously display signs warning people of the firearms restrictions.
Anyone found with a firearm on city property would be fined, and the weapon would be confiscated. A violator could also be required to attend two seminars on firearms safety and perform community service.
But the wording of the ordinance also implied that off-duty police officers couldn't carry their weapons onto city property. Sgt. Jim Walsh, an executive board member with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36, sent an e-mail to the council last week, saying the union wouldn't support "an ordinance that would take our weapons and leave the criminal with his."
When off-duty officers carry firearms, the weapon is either concealed or the person is still identifiable as an officer. If off-duty officers are disarmed, what if someone was hurt because the officer couldn't protect them, Walsh asked. He said people with legal permits to carry weapons would be the ones adversely affected by the ordinance.
"I think that we all know that a criminal would not care if they were in violation of an ordinance like this on city property and will continue to violate law and carry their weapon," Walsh wrote. "The law abiding persons are the people that will follow the law."
Although the County-City Building has metal detectors, the city has numerous offices that are not in the building.
Staff writer Jamie Loo:
jloo@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6337
(Comments link at the bottom of the page)
Letters to the Editor:
VOP@sbtinfo.com
South Bend gun ordinance postponed for more study
FOP has concerns about making all city property off limits, even to off-duty cops.
JAMIE LOO
Tribune Staff Writer
SOUTH BEND -- A measure that would have prohibited firearms on city property is on hold.
The Common Council originally planned to review a new version of the proposal Monday. The public hearings and vote are now postponed indefinitely. The council discussed the proposal at its last meeting but had concerns over the wording, fines and penalties in the ordinance.
Assistant city attorney Tom Bodnar has said that reviving the proposal stems from concerns that some city employees have been intimidated by angry residents carrying firearms into their offices.
The council passed a similar ordinance in 1994 that was superseded by state gun control laws passed later that year. In 2001, the issue came up again, but it was withdrawn by the city legal department before the council could vote on it.
Karen White, D-at large, council chairwoman of the health and public safety committee, said Wednesday the council needs to gather more input and study the ordinance more closely before taking action.
"We have always sought to properly weigh and balance constitutional rights, while protecting public health and safety," she said in a press statement.
The ordinance would have prohibited firearms on city property, with the exception of on-duty law enforcement officers and security guards under contract to protect the property. City buildings would have to conspicuously display signs warning people of the firearms restrictions.
Anyone found with a firearm on city property would be fined, and the weapon would be confiscated. A violator could also be required to attend two seminars on firearms safety and perform community service.
But the wording of the ordinance also implied that off-duty police officers couldn't carry their weapons onto city property. Sgt. Jim Walsh, an executive board member with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36, sent an e-mail to the council last week, saying the union wouldn't support "an ordinance that would take our weapons and leave the criminal with his."
When off-duty officers carry firearms, the weapon is either concealed or the person is still identifiable as an officer. If off-duty officers are disarmed, what if someone was hurt because the officer couldn't protect them, Walsh asked. He said people with legal permits to carry weapons would be the ones adversely affected by the ordinance.
"I think that we all know that a criminal would not care if they were in violation of an ordinance like this on city property and will continue to violate law and carry their weapon," Walsh wrote. "The law abiding persons are the people that will follow the law."
Although the County-City Building has metal detectors, the city has numerous offices that are not in the building.
Staff writer Jamie Loo:
jloo@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6337
(Comments link at the bottom of the page)
Letters to the Editor:
VOP@sbtinfo.com
