Council directs manager, law director to investigate removing no-gun signs and ordinance options for carrying in city buildings

Council debated and then voted to direct the city manager and the law director to investigate options for allowing citizens to carry firearms in city-owned buildings where state law does not prohibit possession.

A council member asked staff to draft an ordinance to allow carrying and to remove "no gun" signage from city building doors where lawful. The motion asked staff to research insurance, employee safety, statutory exceptions (such as courts and police buildings), and whether an ordinance was required or whether signs could be removed administratively.

Council voted 5-2 to pursue the investigation and to return with findings. Vote tally recorded during the meeting was: Councilwoman Wright, yes; Councilman Lindsay, yes; Vice Mayor Eggleston, no; Mayor Cook, no; Councilwoman Grove, yes; Councilman Bond, yes; Councilman Chambers, yes. Council members asked staff to consult the law director and the city's insurance carrier and to return with a written recommendation at the next work session.

Speakers discussed constitutional-carry developments in the state, distinctions between employee-on-duty carry and visitor carry, and the special statutory restrictions that apply to courthouses and police facilities. The city manager said he would coordinate with the law director and report back at the next council work session.