| Dodge City Globe of Feb 20, 2007
City urged to leave Kansas' concealed-carry law alone
Dodge City should not tack additional restrictions onto Kansas' concealed-carry law, several people told the Dodge City Commission on Monday.
"With all due respect, we ask you again tonight, please do not fix what is not broken," said Dodge City resident Lowell Brakey, who represented a group of people who took a concealed-carry class at his shooting range last fall. "Let's take Dodge City out of the newspaper headlines and let this end here tonight, and send a message that Dodge City is not lacking in common sense."
The commission asked people for comments on a proposed ordinance banning concealed weapons at all city-owned buildings, facilities and parks but did not decide whether to adopt it. The ordinance would not apply to city streets and sidewalks.
Additionally, people would not be permitted to carry weapons openly on city-owned property.
Kansas' concealed-carry law already prohibits concealed weapons in several public places, including law enforcement offices, city halls, public meetings of governing bodies and school- and university-sponsored events unrelated to guns.
The law allows business owners who don't want people carrying concealed weapons on their premises to post signs to that effect, and some people contend that provision applies to local government as well.
Dodge City Clerk Nannette Pogue told the Globe last week that the League of Kansas Municipalities has determined that state law allows cities to ban concealed weapons at other public places. She added that Dodge City's ordinance is designed to clarify state law and list other places where people are barred from carrying hidden weapons, which would give the city the ability to prosecute any violations in municipal court.
Some people said Monday that they thought the city should refrain from meddling with Kansas' law – or at least adopt an ordinance that reflects state law without adding to it.
"If you mirror the state law and post buildings where you don't want concealed carry, all of us that have a concealed-carry permit will obey that law," said Dodge City resident David Laneer, who holds a permit but has not yet carried a hidden weapon. "And those that don't have a concealed-carry permit and don't care, it doesn't matter how many laws you pass."
Mayor Jim Sherer noted that the commission is still studying the ordinance and has not yet decided whether to adopt it.
"We were presented a draft ordinance to start the discussion, and it's just the idea that we have to examine all aspects of any situation that we've got," he said.
Commissioner Jim Lembright said he did not think the commission wants to impose additional restrictions on concealed-carry permit holders.
"I'm not so sure it didn't get blown out of proportion at the last meeting – but we still want to hear what you all have to say," he said.
Dodge City resident David Salisbury disagreed with the supporters of concealed carry, saying he wished the city could outlaw concealed weapons altogether.
"I'm just opposed to concealed carry from the get-go," he said.
I got to go to this meeting and where Lowell Brakey had all the facts and research down solid, Dodge City resident David Salisbury (aka Sgt. Dave Salisbury of the Dodge City Police Department) did not. This is how the Sgt. “feels”.
I got the “feeling” (excuse my use of the word) that Chief Ball and Sgt. Salisbury did not expect that many people. The Police were not prepared. Chief Ball may have asked Sgt. Dave Salisbury to speak. Ball is being very quiet. The Sergeant did not put any work into the effort and without any facts or research to support his words, did very little to move the City Commission. A total of six people (?) spoke on the issue. More would have spoke but they ran out of time. 5 spoke for not doing anything and 1 for doing a lot more (Sgt. Salisbury).  |