South Milwaukee may become the latest city ban weapons inside city buildings, including City Hall and the South Milwaukee Public Library.
The City Council will consider adopting a resolution to that effect on Tuesday night.
The resolution would adopt the state concealed carry statutes for the city, with one key exception: Our ordinance would say “no person, except sworn law enforcement officers, shall carry or possess a weapon or firearm whether concealed or not within any City owned building or facility.”
We are not alone in having this debate. Local governments across the state are determining whether or not to allow weapons in public buildings in light of the Nov. 1 effective date of the state concealed carry legislation.
Some communities like Milwaukee have already enacted ordinances banning weapons in city buildings, and a number of others are considering similar ordinances. Others like Germantown and Sturtevant are allowing guns in public buildings.
I support the ban in South Milwaukee.
I am liberal on some issues, conservative on others. I am a liberal on guns. I favor tight gun control laws and would prefer not to have concealed carry laws in place in Wisconsin at all. But we do.
So I focus my energy on strongly supporting common-sense restrictions like the ones the council is considering Tuesday. Simply, there is no reason someone should have to carry his or her gun or knife inside City Hall.
Citizens, staff and elected officials have a right to feel safe inside public buildings. And I feel more safe knowing guns are prohibited inside places like City Hall — just as I would feel less safe wondering if a citizen angry with me about an issue in front of the council has a gun or not.
Indeed, guns don’t kill people. People do. People with too easy access to guns.
So bring your guns to the mall, park or the countless other places the legislature is allowing you to conceal them. Carry them on the street or in your car.
If you’re heading to City Hall, leave them at home.
Of course, I’d like to know what you think of this issue — and every issue. Vote in the poll on the right side of this page, and post your comments below.
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