Council in Cape to vote on ban for guns

Those packing concealed weapons won't be able to do so legally in Cape Girardeau's city hall or any other city-owned or operated buildings under a proposal that the council will vote on tonight.

The city council is scheduled to vote Monday night on the first reading of an ordinance that would place city buildings off limits to those carrying concealed weapons. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at city hall.

Police and city officials admit the municipal ordinance, allowed under Missouri's new law legalizing concealed weapons, won't guarantee safer government buildings. But they said it could help keep honest residents from bringing guns in the buildings.

"It seems logical that you shouldn't have concealed weapons in a courtroom or city council chamber," said city manager Doug Leslie. "Unfortunately, it is wide open unless you pass an ordinance and post it on your facilities."

The new state law takes effect on Saturday, prompting city officials to want to enact the ban. The proposed city ordinance could take effect as early as Oct. 30, Leslie said.

But Cape Girardeau municipal buildings won't have metal detectors -- at least for now -- only signs at the entrances barring the public from carrying concealed guns inside.

Such signs won't stop lawbreakers, said police Capt. Carl Kinnison. "If they don't do anything to lead you to believe they had a weapon, it would go completely undetected," he said.

Kinnison said it's likely some defendants and visitors in municipal court, held in the city council chambers, came to court packing concealed weapons in past years even though there was an outright state ban at the time.

A police officer is on duty during municipal court proceedings, but those coming into the room don't have to go through a metal detector and aren't searched for weapons.

Mayor Jay Knudtson said city officials are looking at the security issue at city hall. "I have real concerns, not only about the council chamber but also municipal court," he said.

Emotional place

He said security at municipal court is his biggest concern because those facing city charges are "often filled with emotion."

Knudtson said the city may look at refurbishing old airport metal detectors for use at city hall.

"We are looking at all avenues to better secure city hall," the mayor said. Banning concealed weapons in the building may be just the first step, he said.

Private businesses also can ban concealed firearms and post notices to that effect, under the new state law.

The proposed Cape Girardeau city ordinance would allow city staff to order people to leave city government buildings if they are spotted carrying concealed guns and have permits for them. State law doesn't allow a fine for such a violation provided individuals leave if asked to do so. Individuals who refuse to leave a building can face fines, said city attorney Eric Cunningham.

Kinnison said violators could face $100 fines in circuit court. "There is really no criminal offense," he said.

City employees could be disciplined if they don't follow the prohibition.

Cunningham said the provision to allow city employees to be disciplined comes from a model ordinance drawn up by the Missouri Municipal League and based on the provisions set out in the new state law.

Kinnison said law-abiding people who pay the $200 for training and permits to carry concealed weapons probably will abide by any new, posted city regulation on the issue.

Councilman Charlie Herbst said signs alone won't prevent people from carrying weapons illegally. But he suggested it's important for the city to have the municipal regulation for liability reasons.

The new ordinance, he said, probably will mean little more than new signs at the entrances to city government buildings.

"I think that is probably all we will wind up doing," said Herbst who doesn't want heavy handed security at municipal buildings.

"We are trying to make a more friendly and open city hall. I guess in my mind, the last thing I I want to do is put an armed guard at the entrance to all city buildings," he said.

Vince Bowman said the proposed city ordinance won't make city hall any safer and will have little impact on visitors, most of whom -- he said -- won't be carrying concealed weapons.

"It is stupid," said Bowman, who works at Shooters Gun Shop in Cape Girardeau. "It just doesn't make any sense."

Bowman said law-abiding gun owners won't be storming public buildings with concealed weapons. "People aren't going to just carry these things around like cowboys," he said.

"Everybody just dumps on this thing like it is going to be World War III," Bowman said of the state law legalizing concealed weapons.

He said there's no need for the city council to pass any ordinance further restricting guns.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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