Cities, county ponder new gun law

State legislators have left it up to local government officials to decide whether to allow concealed weapons to be carried into certain public buildings.

Already, with a veto override, state representatives have declared guns off limits in certain buildings. And the concealed-weapons bill makes it illegal for the public to carry a weapon into a government meeting.

But the legislation does not eliminate concealed weapons from city halls, public works facilities or county administrative offices.

In the upcoming weeks, local governments will take a close look at gun regulations within public structures. The state bill goes into effect on Oct. 12.

In Cape Girardeau, officials began critiquing security measures even before the state passed the conceal-and-carry law.

A fatal shooting of a councilman in New York this summer prompted Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson to look into security measures here.

Knudtson has had his own scary situations.

"I will admit to you that I have had one instance as mayor where an individual stood before me, and he was emotional, and for a brief moment I didn't know what was going to happen next," he said. "The way he acted was a bit disturbing."

That instance had nothing to do with the conceal-and-carry law, which was designed to allow law-abiding residents 23 years or older to take a course and apply for a permit. But some government officials would just rather not have weapons, legal or not, in their building.

"I feel like they shouldn't be allowed to have weapons in municipal buildings," said Jackson alderwoman Val Tuschhoff, who has had more than one family member work in law enforcement.

Cape Girardeau city clerk Gayle Conrad and city collector Martha Thompson both said they'd feel safer if a sign banning guns were posted at city hall.

Cape Girardeau councilman Charlie Herbst, a reserve deputy with the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department and certified peace officer, could legally carry a weapon, but he doesn't.

"I would like to see it prohibited from government buildings," he said.

County commissioner Larry Bock agreed.

"We don't have a need for concealed weapons in the administrative building," he said. "I think it's a good law, but only people with a good background and training will get a permit. I would be in favor of banning them in the county building."

More security

Cape Girardeau city manager Doug Leslie is in the process of addressing security.

Leslie said video cameras, alarm systems and even metal detectors are being considered.

"We're looking at some methods of action we could take that would be beneficial for security reasons, but not cumbersome for the public to enter the building," he said.

Leslie said a security recommendation would likely include a ban on weapons in city buildings.

In order to do that, cities would have to post the ban at the entrance. A municipality may not impose any penalty for ignoring a posted sign, but violators may be ordered to leave the building. If the gun carrier refuses to leave the building, then a fine of up to $100 may be imposed.

In Jackson, the aldermen have not yet discussed the issue, but they will do so soon, Mayor Paul Sander said.

Sander said he didn't have a strong opinion on the state law and wouldn't commit either way on banning concealed weapons from public buildings.

"I do think weapon regulations on public buildings are something we should look at very seriously," he said.

Scott City Mayor Tim Porch said the council has not discussed the issue, but the city may not have to address it, considering the police department is in the same building as city hall and the state already addressed banning weapons in courtrooms.

"That pretty much includes everything we have unless you include swimming pools or something like that," Porch said.

There is another provision in the legislation that allows members of governing bodies to carry weapons into meetings.

"I don't think anyone on the council would carry one, but I don't even feel we should," Tuschhoff said. "I don't think that's the place to have a gun."

Bock said if someone ever got hostile in the commission chambers, "we have a way of getting an officer in there pretty quickly," Bock said.

bmiller@semissourian.com

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