http://m.wdel.com/story.php?id=69968/
Thursday, August 13, 2015 - 11:19pm
VIDEO: Elsmere won't ban guns from municipal buildings, public meetings
By: Shana O'Malley
Elsmere officials will not consider banning firearms in town buildings.
During a meeting Thursday night, Elsmere Town Council voted down the first reading of an ordinance that would have prohibited the public from openly carrying firearms in municipal buildings.
District 6 Councilwoman and former Elsmere mayor Deborah Norkavage proposed the change to the town's code.
"I feel that all of the citizens should be able to come to town hall to voice their opinions and their concerns without any feelings of being intimidated," Norkavage said.
Last year, officials held a lengthy public hearing to discuss the town's long standing ban on guns in parks. During that meeting, Norkavage said gun rights advocates were in full force.
"There were members of the public who were armed, and I don't tend to feel intimidated; however, I don't know that all members of the community would feel that way--and maybe because of that--would be less inclined to speak openly and freely as they should be able to do at our council meetings," she said.
State lawmakers passed a bill earlier this year allowing local governments to create their own policies for firearms in municipal buildings. That bill has not yet been signed.
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Contact Shana O'Malley at
somalley@dbcmedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @shanaomalley
