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http://www.state-journal.com/news/article/3523892
Photo By Photo by Kelly Mackey
Charles Riggs tells the Frankfort City Commission his thoughts on carrying firearms in city buildings during the city commission meeting Monday. State Journal/Kelly Mackey
Kevin Miley, left, and Brian Sudduth talk outside before the City Commission meeting Monday.
Miley and Sudduth attended to support the right to carry arms in a city building, something city commissioners say they never wanted to do away with. City Commissioner Lynn Bowers and gun owners say misunderstandings led to a disagreement Monday night about the carrying of firearms.
The commission discussed last month installing a metal detector to prevent concealed firearms at public meetings. A metal detector at city hall was prompted by the deadly shooting in Kirkwood, Mo., on Feb. 7 that left two police officers and three city officials dead. A reporter and the Kirkwood mayor were also injured.
Several of the Kentucky Coalition to Carry Concealed attended the commission meeting Monday openly carrying firearms and wearing T-shirts featuring "Gun Nut for Public Safety."
Founding member Charles Riggs said signs and metal detectors will not deter those prepared to use a firearm to commit violence.
"Kirkwood had an absolute prohibition on firearms," Riggs said. "Those with murderous intent are not deterred by the laws of man or God." The gunman in that instance had an ongoing feud with the city and was shot to death by nearby police.
Brian Sudduth, wearing his .45 caliber Smith & Wesson in a hip holster, said he was concerned the commission would ban citizens from openly carrying firearms in City Hall. Sudduth is a concealed weapons instructor, competitive pistol marksman and hunter.
City Solicitor Rob Moore said it's legal for citizens to carry firearms in City Hall and Commissioner Lynn Bowers said nobody ever discussed banning guns from the building.
"I'm not sure that was ever the issue," she said. "It sounds like they think we were about to pass an ordinance that we are not going to have guns in City Hall. I don't think that's where the discussion was going."
Bowers said she felt the gun owners were trying to start an argument and didn't have all the facts.
"I think conclusions were jumped to, maybe on both sides," she said.
The discussion might have been less contentious, Sudduth said, if the gun advocates had approached members of the commission in person.
"We wouldn't want any member of the City Commission to feel like we offended them or put them on the spot," Sudduth said. "I know that wasn't our intent."
Bowers said she resented a statement by Riggs, who said the members of the commission were woefully uninformed.
Riggs said she was taking the comments personally and walked away from the podium before she could respond.
Bowers said she was civil with Riggs but didn't appreciate his insinuations.
The gun owners also urged the commission to repeal a 1997 ordinance that banned citizens from carrying concealed firearms in City Hall, meaning only "open carry" was allowed.
Sudduth said open carry makes it more difficult for people to defend themselves in a situation like the fatal shooting in Kirkwood. Two police officers were the first people killed in Kirkwood and Sudduth said that's because they were the most obvious threat to the gunman.
"If you allowed concealed carry they wouldn't know who could defend themselves," he said. "Open carry makes you a target."
However, Bowers and Sudduth say there's still room for dialogue if the issue comes up again.
Repairs to Briar Cliff
Other topics at Monday's commission meeting included repairs to Briar Cliff in South Frankfort, where a landslide last month caused a portion of the road to collapse.
Former City Commissioner Russ Kennedy praised the city officials and work crews for their efforts, saying there has been no interruption in essential services.
"We never missed a beat," he said.
The commission approved Monday night an emergency contract for $134,760 to Soil Nail Launcher to assist with reconstruction efforts. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has offered to assist with the cleanup but rejected a request to provide cost-sharing assistance for the reconstruction effort.
"The door is not completely shut on this," City Manager Tony Massey said.
Condemnations to go forward
The commission also voted to initiate condemnation proceedings against five properties near the Schenkel Lane Cave. Moore said the city has obtained most of the easements required to replace the cave sewer but that the project must move forward so that bids can be advertised.
The proceedings would be filed today in court, he said. Bowers said the move is an essential part of the city's consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency.
"We don't go around condemning properties because it's a fun thing to do," she said. "If we can't comply with the consent decree then all 27,000 of us are going to pay the price. This is not something we have a choice in."
Moore said a commission to be appointed by the court would decide the amount of damages the property owners are entitled to.
http://www.state-journal.com/news/article/3523892
Photo By Photo by Kelly Mackey
Charles Riggs tells the Frankfort City Commission his thoughts on carrying firearms in city buildings during the city commission meeting Monday. State Journal/Kelly Mackey
Kevin Miley, left, and Brian Sudduth talk outside before the City Commission meeting Monday.
Miley and Sudduth attended to support the right to carry arms in a city building, something city commissioners say they never wanted to do away with. City Commissioner Lynn Bowers and gun owners say misunderstandings led to a disagreement Monday night about the carrying of firearms.
The commission discussed last month installing a metal detector to prevent concealed firearms at public meetings. A metal detector at city hall was prompted by the deadly shooting in Kirkwood, Mo., on Feb. 7 that left two police officers and three city officials dead. A reporter and the Kirkwood mayor were also injured.
Several of the Kentucky Coalition to Carry Concealed attended the commission meeting Monday openly carrying firearms and wearing T-shirts featuring "Gun Nut for Public Safety."
Founding member Charles Riggs said signs and metal detectors will not deter those prepared to use a firearm to commit violence.
"Kirkwood had an absolute prohibition on firearms," Riggs said. "Those with murderous intent are not deterred by the laws of man or God." The gunman in that instance had an ongoing feud with the city and was shot to death by nearby police.
Brian Sudduth, wearing his .45 caliber Smith & Wesson in a hip holster, said he was concerned the commission would ban citizens from openly carrying firearms in City Hall. Sudduth is a concealed weapons instructor, competitive pistol marksman and hunter.
City Solicitor Rob Moore said it's legal for citizens to carry firearms in City Hall and Commissioner Lynn Bowers said nobody ever discussed banning guns from the building.
"I'm not sure that was ever the issue," she said. "It sounds like they think we were about to pass an ordinance that we are not going to have guns in City Hall. I don't think that's where the discussion was going."
Bowers said she felt the gun owners were trying to start an argument and didn't have all the facts.
"I think conclusions were jumped to, maybe on both sides," she said.
The discussion might have been less contentious, Sudduth said, if the gun advocates had approached members of the commission in person.
"We wouldn't want any member of the City Commission to feel like we offended them or put them on the spot," Sudduth said. "I know that wasn't our intent."
Bowers said she resented a statement by Riggs, who said the members of the commission were woefully uninformed.
Riggs said she was taking the comments personally and walked away from the podium before she could respond.
Bowers said she was civil with Riggs but didn't appreciate his insinuations.
The gun owners also urged the commission to repeal a 1997 ordinance that banned citizens from carrying concealed firearms in City Hall, meaning only "open carry" was allowed.
Sudduth said open carry makes it more difficult for people to defend themselves in a situation like the fatal shooting in Kirkwood. Two police officers were the first people killed in Kirkwood and Sudduth said that's because they were the most obvious threat to the gunman.
"If you allowed concealed carry they wouldn't know who could defend themselves," he said. "Open carry makes you a target."
However, Bowers and Sudduth say there's still room for dialogue if the issue comes up again.
Repairs to Briar Cliff
Other topics at Monday's commission meeting included repairs to Briar Cliff in South Frankfort, where a landslide last month caused a portion of the road to collapse.
Former City Commissioner Russ Kennedy praised the city officials and work crews for their efforts, saying there has been no interruption in essential services.
"We never missed a beat," he said.
The commission approved Monday night an emergency contract for $134,760 to Soil Nail Launcher to assist with reconstruction efforts. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has offered to assist with the cleanup but rejected a request to provide cost-sharing assistance for the reconstruction effort.
"The door is not completely shut on this," City Manager Tony Massey said.
Condemnations to go forward
The commission also voted to initiate condemnation proceedings against five properties near the Schenkel Lane Cave. Moore said the city has obtained most of the easements required to replace the cave sewer but that the project must move forward so that bids can be advertised.
The proceedings would be filed today in court, he said. Bowers said the move is an essential part of the city's consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency.
"We don't go around condemning properties because it's a fun thing to do," she said. "If we can't comply with the consent decree then all 27,000 of us are going to pay the price. This is not something we have a choice in."
Moore said a commission to be appointed by the court would decide the amount of damages the property owners are entitled to.
