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Courier-Journal - Kentucky Democrats want to ban open carry at state capitol!

MgoBlue

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Just posted by the Louisville Courier-Journal:
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100323/NEWS01/3230339/House+Democrats+to+consider+gun+ban+for+chamber

What I want to know is who at this forum are the good folks talked about in the story!

Carry on . . .

-----------Story begins-----------

FRANKFORT, Ky. — House Democrats will talk Wednesday about the need for a new rule that would prohibit guns on the House floor and in the visitors’ gallery after a couple of incidents this session that have left some legislators shaken.“We should not live in fear as we debate issues,” said Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, who called himself and his fellow legislators “sitting ducks.”

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said that he would have no problem with such a rule but that it would be up to the Democratic caucus to decide whether to pursue the matter.

Currently, guns are not prohibited anywhere on the Capitol campus as long as they are carried openly. Concealed weapons — unless carried by a legislator — are prohibited in the House and Senate chambers and in legislative committee meetings.

“We're an open-carry state,” said Sgt. Brian Evans, who runs the Kentucky State Police detail that protects the legislature. “It's crazy.”

Evans said that, whenever someone enters the Capitol with a gun, he assigns a state trooper to follow the individual until he leaves the building.

“I hate to do that but there's nothing else we can do,” he said.

Earlier in the session someone was openly carrying a semiautomatic handgun. That person returned with his gun on Monday.

And on Tuesday, Evans said, a state trooper assigned to the House gallery noticed a holster under another man's shirt. The man was escorted from the gallery and police later learned that the holster was empty.

Gov. Paul Patton signed an executive order during his 1995-2003 administration that banned weapons in the Capitol. But that order expired, and since then guns have been allowed.

In a floor speech yesterday, Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, implored Stumbo to work with other members of the Legislative Research Commission to ban guns in the building, citing the growing anger in the nation's political discourse.

She noted that school children from throughout the state visit the Capitol nearly every day and that their parents expect they are visiting a safe place. If guns are going to be present, Marzian said, parents should be warned.

“Parents need to know their children are going to be in mortal danger,” she said.
Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville, said in an interview that any attempt to prohibit guns from being carried openly in the Capitol would violate the state's constitution, which gives the General Assembly only the power to regulate concealed weapons.

Stumbo said he believes, however, that he believes the courts would uphold any ban on guns in in the Capitol.

Reporter Joseph Gerth can be reached at (502) 582-4702.

--------End of Story---------
 

Task Force 16

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MgoBlue wrote:
Just posted by the Louisville Courier-Journal:
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100323/NEWS01/3230339/House+Democrats+to+consider+gun+ban+for+chamber

What I want to know is who at this forum are the good folks talked about in the story!

Carry on . . .

-----------Story begins-----------

FRANKFORT, Ky. — House Democrats will talk Wednesday about the need for a new rule that would prohibit guns on the House floor and in the visitors’ gallery after a couple of incidents this session that have left some legislators shaken.“We should not live in fear as we debate issues,” said Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, who called himself and his fellow legislators “sitting ducks.”

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said that he would have no problem with such a rule but that it would be up to the Democratic caucus to decide whether to pursue the matter.

Currently, guns are not prohibited anywhere on the Capitol campus as long as they are carried openly. Concealed weapons — unless carried by a legislator — are prohibited in the House and Senate chambers and in legislative committee meetings.

“We're an open-carry state,” said Sgt. Brian Evans, who runs the Kentucky State Police detail that protects the legislature. “It's crazy.”

Evans said that, whenever someone enters the Capitol with a gun, he assigns a state trooper to follow the individual until he leaves the building.

“I hate to do that but there's nothing else we can do,” he said.

Earlier in the session someone was openly carrying a semiautomatic handgun. That person returned with his gun on Monday.

And on Tuesday, Evans said, a state trooper assigned to the House gallery noticed a holster under another man's shirt. The man was escorted from the gallery and police later learned that the holster was empty.

Gov. Paul Patton signed an executive order during his 1995-2003 administration that banned weapons in the Capitol. But that order expired, and since then guns have been allowed.

In a floor speech yesterday, Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, implored Stumbo to work with other members of the Legislative Research Commission to ban guns in the building, citing the growing anger in the nation's political discourse.

She noted that school children from throughout the state visit the Capitol nearly every day and that their parents expect they are visiting a safe place. If guns are going to be present, Marzian said, parents should be warned.

“Parents need to know their children are going to be in mortal danger,” she said.
Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville, said in an interview that any attempt to prohibit guns from being carried openly in the Capitol would violate the state's constitution, which gives the General Assembly only the power to regulate concealed weapons.

Stumbo said he believes, however, that he believes the courts would uphold any ban on guns in in the Capitol.

Reporter Joseph Gerth can be reached at (502) 582-4702.

--------End of Story---------

Perhaps, if the Democrats weren't trying to screw the people of Ky, they wouldn't have anything to fear from armed citizens in the legislative gallery.

How does that saying go about when government fears the citizens you have a free society... and when the citizens fear the government you have tyranny? or something like that.
 

langzaiguy

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I personally am afraid of Democrats that try to usurp power and oppress citizens of the Commonwealth. I advocate banning Democrats from the Capitol building.
 

zer0cool

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There seem to be two constant themes in this report: Democrats and fear.

Which to me is new in this state. But definitely not new for this country. They would be wise to leave things as they are I know it's hard for most democrats to read history but if they did they would see those who have attempted to change our state's weapons laws have found themselves out of the capitol and into another job.

I have always been proud of my state because they seem to be able to read the constitution, but if something like this passes my pride will fade with the knowledge that idiocy some how worked its way into my beloved state.
:banghead::banghead::cuss::cuss:
 

neuroblades

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Well, at least Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville, got it right, so at least one Democrat has some brains up there. *LOL*
 

neuroblades

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gutshot wrote:
In a floor speech yesterday, Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, implored Stumbo to work with other members of the Legislative Research Commission to ban guns in the building, citing the growing anger in the nation's political discourse.

She noted that school children from throughout the state visit the Capitol nearly every day and that their parents expect they are visiting a safe place. If guns are going to be present, Marzian said, parents should be warned.

“Parents need to know their children are going to be in mortal danger,” she said.
_________________________________________________________________

Why would they be in any more danger than when they are out and about in the rest of the state where the same laws apply and guns are always present? Idiot.
Actually, as I see it, the children would be in a safer environment than if they were in the school building! Not making light of this issue but need I mention Columbine, Virginia Tech, and all the other massacres that are due in part or in whole by states that DO NOT allow for armed response? I would personally think the children safer while touring the Capitol with KSP troopers stationed there as well as other citizens who are carrying.
 

mellio

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gutshot wrote:
Why would they be in any more danger than when they are out and about in the rest of the state where the same laws apply and guns are always present? Idiot.

This is very true but the fact they now are trying make it illegal to carry in the capitalmakes you wonder whats next. Jacobson Park? The reason for protest is to draw attention to your cause. Just make sure the people you draw attention from are not more influential than you and can make it illegal for youto do what you are trying to promote.

Don't take from this that I'm telling you not to open carry. I do it occasionally when I feel like it. I CC most of the time. I just don't draw more attention to myself than what a casual observer would normaly give me. By doing this I doubt that I have ever made anyone want to write a news story about me or pass a law to stop me from doing it.
 

Mike

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I just sent the reporter the following email:

--

Hi Joseph,

Good report at [url]http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100323/NEWS01/3230339/House+Democrats+to+consider+gun+ban+for+chamber[/url]

Open carriers in Kentucky are becoming aware of this threat to their right to open carry in Kentucky and will no doubt take it seriously.

It should be noted though the Supreme Court of Kentucky has said:

"In our state the legislature is empowered only to deny to citizens the right to carry concealed weapons. The constitutional provision is an affirmation of the faith that all men have the inherent right to arm themselves for the defense of themselves and of the state. The only limitation concerns the mode of carrying such instruments. We observe, via obiter dicta, that although a person is granted the right to carry a weapon openly, a severe penalty is imposed for carrying it concealed. If the gun is worn outside the jacket or shirt in full view, no one may question the wearer's right so to do; but, it is carried under the jacket or shirt, the violator is subject to imprisonment for not less than two nor more than five years. The heavy emphasis, we suppose, is upon the undue advantage given to a person who is able suddenly to expose and use a weapon, although the gun itself is the vicious instrument." Holland v. Commonwealth, 294 S.W.2d 83, 85 (Ky. 1956).

You article is posted to OpenCarry.org and a discussion is ensuing at http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum25/40894.html

The idea that Capitol police are assigning an officer to follow open carriers around is preposterous - so they just leave the conceal carriers to their own devices because . . . they are concealing? Come on - that does not pass the giggle test!

I and hundreds of Virginians open carry in the Virginia General Assembly offices and committee meeting rooms every year without a hitch - other states also allow conceal and/or open carry in their Capitals, including Texas, and apparently until recently, and probably again in the near future, New Hampshire.

Admittedly in Virginia even open carriers must hold the concealed permit to enter Capitol Square buildings, and Texas only allows concealed carry with permit - but come on, these states are not Kentucky whose Constitution forbids the legislature from banning open carry.

Perhaps the Democrats in Kentucky should offer up an Amendment to the Kentucky state Constitution to fix that - I'd like to see how that goes for 'em :)


Mike Stollenwerk

co-founder, OpenCarry.org
 

neuroblades

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Well, it looks asthough the Capitol Rally on March 27th could've come at a better time! Hopefully this will help to mobilize more gun owners to their 2A Rights this coming Saturday!
 

Lthrnck

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I like the part of the article that states....

Currently, guns are not prohibited anywhere on the Capitol campus as long as they are carried openly. Concealed weapons — unless carried by a legislator — are prohibited in the House and Senate chambers and in legislative committee meetings.

So what happens if a Legislator goes bonkers and pulls out their concealed weapon.. and starts shooting the children....???:banghead:
 

nobama

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What does the Democrat party stand for anymore? Sure as hell aint liberty!!!!
 

DanM

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Lawmakerswhofear andoppose anarmedpopulace are telling youall you need to know about their true motives and how they truly view you. If they don't trust you with your arms, why trust them with the power they hold?Listen, and vote them out before they harm your liberties.
 

zig-zag

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The only ones allowed to carry concealed are the legislature. The people should be afraid of these idiots carrying concealed and what gives them the right to carry but not the American people. Why are they carrying concealed anyway are they afraid of their own friends, they don't trust each other.
 

RussP

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Does anyone know, or know of the gentleman removed from the gallery. Seems he just faded away after the incident.
 

MgoBlue

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That was one of the reasons I began this thread to begin with. It seems as though his removal was completely out of line. To follow-up with Mike Stollenwerk's e-mail to Joe Gerth, any movement by the Legislature to ban guns seems to me to be unconstitutional.
 

neuroblades

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DanM wrote:
Lawmakerswhofear andoppose anarmedpopulace are telling youall you need to know about their true motives and how they truly view you. If they don't trust you with your arms, why trust them with the power they hold?Listen, and vote them out before they harm your liberties.
Excellently said and right on the mark my friend! Hopefully this news article will motivate gun owners that care to come out this coming Saturday to the @nd Amendment Rally at the Capitol. My understanding is that the Rally is open carry.
 

neuroblades

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zig-zag wrote:
The only ones allowed to carry concealed are the legislature. The people should be afraid of these idiots carrying concealed and what gives them the right to carry but not the American people. Why are they carrying concealed anyway are they afraid of their own friends, they don't trust each other.
Food for thought! If they don't trust each other, in there, then why should we trust them?
 

Thos.Jefferson

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neuroblades wrote:
zig-zag wrote:
The only ones allowed to carry concealed are the legislature. The people should be afraid of these idiots carrying concealed and what gives them the right to carry but not the American people. Why are they carrying concealed anyway are they afraid of their own friends, they don't trust each other.
Food for thought! If they don't trust each other, in there, then why should we trust them?
I don't know about anyone else but I don't trust them, bunch of power hungry tyrants imo
 
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