The Benton County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday morning to prohibit firearms and dangerous weapons from county buildings and property, including the courthouse.
The ordinance does not apply to law enforcement officers and others who have professional permits to carry firearms. It goes into effect immediately.
The ordinance, drafted by Benton County Attorney Dave Thompson, stipulates that anyone in possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon on county property would be subject to prosecution for criminal trespass.
Thompson told the supervisors that he tried to draft a resolution that is "user-friendly and gun-right" friendly. He said that the Iowa Attorney General's Office issued an opinion in December stating that county governments have the right to prohibit weapons from county property, the way that private property owners can set the terms of use for their property. He added, however, that the Attorney General's Opinion clearly stated that county leaders do not have the right to pass ordinances barring the carrying of guns allowed by the new law within their county borders.
County roads are not included in this ordinance, although they are technically county property. There is also an exemption for the firearms used by hunters on county-owned lands during hunting season.
Thompson said other counties, including Linn and Black Hawk, already prohibit weapons from their courthouses, and that Iowa court rules prohibit them from courtrooms. He also said, in response to a question, that for now a resolution will be sufficient to cover the issue. He said it is possible that later on the county may need to adopt an ordinance prohibiting weapons from its property.
Benton County Sheriff and Benton County Conservation Director Will Heber attended the meeting to discuss the issue.
Heber told the supervisors that his park rangers would not be searching vehicles. He said he assumes that some of the people who visit county parks do have firearms in their campers or vehicles. He said officers would only respond to calls if a weapon is displayed.
Heber said after the meeting that here had been a couple of incidents involving firearms at county parks in 2010. He said he is concerned that letting non-professionals carry weapons could lead to more shootings.
Comments
Submit a CommentPlease refresh the page to leave Comment.
Still seeing this message? Press Ctrl + F5 to do a "Hard Refresh".
Come on.
"How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual... as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded, controlled, supervised, and taken care of." - Fr. TX Rep. Suzanna Hupp. It looks like Benton County, along with others in Iowa have fallen for totally unwarranted hype. Reserving County Parks and buildings for the criminals who could care less about signs or ordinances puts a lot of citizens in danger. Non-professionals have been carrying weapons for years, and it would be interesting to see statistics backing up the claim of "could" lead to more shootings.
Weapons permits have been issued for as long as I've been alive. I have never known any weapons permit holder to commit a crime in Iowa.
The hysteria and nonsense comming from elected officials and government employees is going from ridiculous to insulting. I am offended by Mr. Herbers statments.
A political subdivision of the state shall not enact an ordinance regulating the ownership, possession, legal transfer, lawful transportation, registration, or licensing of firearms when the ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation is otherwise lawful under the laws of this state. An ordinance regulating firearms in violation of this section existing on or after April 5, 1990, is void."