Left the Maplewood meeting, my self and the others before the vote. This is what I saud, had to edit to fit in the 3 minutes:
The 1st Amendment gives us the right of freedom of speech, freedom of the press. Yet you cannot yell fire in a theater. The 1st amendment gives us freedom of religion but we cannot kill innocent men women and children in the name of God. The 2nd amendment gives us the right to keep and bear arms. But you cannot use a firearm in a threatening manner, you cannot point a firearm at someone. For over 125 years according to Article 1 Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution you can carry a firearm exposed in a holster in the State of Missouri and The City of Mapelwood. We have one incident by one person who was within his rights and The City of Maplewood wants to change that? The legislature here in Missouri made it the law and the Supreme Court here and in the US Supreme Court up held those laws.
As of December 11th 2010 The following Cities in STL CO. allow open carry:
Ballwin, Black Jack, Brentwood, Bridgeton, Charlack, Crestwood, Dellwod, Des Peres, Eureka, Ferguson, Frontenac, Green Park, Hazelwood, Huntingleigh, Jennings, Kirkwood, Ladue, Maplewood, Maryland Heights, Pacific, Richmond Heights, Rock Hill, Sunset Hills, Warson Woods, Westwood, Woodson Terrace.
An alternative, perhaps an amendment to your proposed ordinance might follow the lead of the following St. Louis County Cities.
The following Cities allow open carry for people with a valid CCW permit: Berkley, Clayton, Creve Coeur, Ellisville, Florissant, Manchester, Northwoods, Olivette, Vinita Park, Webster Groves.
The Missouri Statutes state an individual in possession of a concealed firearm confronted by a law enforcement officer who requests to inspect their CCW permit must present that permit to the officer. Modification of the proposed ordinance to allow open carry with a CCW may well resolve the issue of identification when a request is made by police.
While the past incident brought about negative publicity for Maplewood, open carry remains the legal right of Missouri citizens, and has perhaps grown in popularity in recent years. Since the drafting of the Missouri Constitution in the early 1800’s and the founding of Maplewood in the late 1800’s open carry has been legal under article 1 section 23 in the State of Missouri. It simply has not been an issue.
Please consider a delay for modification of this ordinance to allowing those with a valid CCW to open carry. This would put the city of Maplewood in line with many Cities within St. Louis County.
Total prohibition to open carry means you can be arrested for simply placing your hunting rifle in or out of your vehicle, or if you are in possession of a Conceal Carry Permit and your firearm is simply seen, due to wind, riding a bicycle or a flip of a shirt or leaning over the trunk of a vehicle you can go to jail.
Over 125,000 Missouri permits and perhaps 75,000 here with other state permits.
Please consider carefully before placing additional infringements on the second amendment for the people of Missouri here in Maplewood. The second amendment of the Bill of Rights, is as basic a freedom to Americans as freedom of the press or freedom of religion, please do not “infringe” on our 2nd amendment rights.