Steven Mace
01-21-2002, 01:01 PM
Zephyrhills should revisit gun decision
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 21, 2002
Editor: At the Jan. 14 Zephyrhills City Council meeting, the council members approved the portion of the new employee manual that deals with firearms. They excluded, as a condition of employment, carrying concealed handguns while on duty with the city even if they have a state concealed handgun permit. Their attorney pointed out that the state Legislature never intended to force entities to accept concealed handgun in all places not listed on the license. This employee manual will help shield the city, and its taxpayers, should someone violate this policy. However they then made a serious mistake.
The employee manual does, however, allow city employees and the general public to bring loaded handguns into the city's parking lots. The manual states as long as the public or employee follows applicable law regarding loaded handguns in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, it's okay with the city!
Aside from the fact that most do not know how to legally carry a loaded handgun in a car, by allowing this, and even encouraging it, the city now exposes itself and its taxpayers, to the liability it sought to protect itself against. If something happens in the parking lot or even starts in the parking lot, and many instances of gun violence have started in parking lots, the city will be defenseless. The city's attorney made it perfectly clear they could have gun-free parking lots and it would be perfectly legal. It seems public safety and reducing the city's liability was not something this council was totally committed to.
At least one council member made a statement that he carried a loaded gun in his car. Others may have felt they didn't want to irritate gun owners despite the fact not a single Zephyrhills resident or employee of the city appeared before the council to say one word about this new employee manual and its proposed gun restrictions.
We think the Zephyrhills City Council needs to revisit this provision of the employee manual and correct a serious mistake.
-- Arthur C. Hayhoe, executive director Florida Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/01/21/Pasco/Zephyrhills_should_re.shtml
Steve Mace
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 21, 2002
Editor: At the Jan. 14 Zephyrhills City Council meeting, the council members approved the portion of the new employee manual that deals with firearms. They excluded, as a condition of employment, carrying concealed handguns while on duty with the city even if they have a state concealed handgun permit. Their attorney pointed out that the state Legislature never intended to force entities to accept concealed handgun in all places not listed on the license. This employee manual will help shield the city, and its taxpayers, should someone violate this policy. However they then made a serious mistake.
The employee manual does, however, allow city employees and the general public to bring loaded handguns into the city's parking lots. The manual states as long as the public or employee follows applicable law regarding loaded handguns in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, it's okay with the city!
Aside from the fact that most do not know how to legally carry a loaded handgun in a car, by allowing this, and even encouraging it, the city now exposes itself and its taxpayers, to the liability it sought to protect itself against. If something happens in the parking lot or even starts in the parking lot, and many instances of gun violence have started in parking lots, the city will be defenseless. The city's attorney made it perfectly clear they could have gun-free parking lots and it would be perfectly legal. It seems public safety and reducing the city's liability was not something this council was totally committed to.
At least one council member made a statement that he carried a loaded gun in his car. Others may have felt they didn't want to irritate gun owners despite the fact not a single Zephyrhills resident or employee of the city appeared before the council to say one word about this new employee manual and its proposed gun restrictions.
We think the Zephyrhills City Council needs to revisit this provision of the employee manual and correct a serious mistake.
-- Arthur C. Hayhoe, executive director Florida Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/01/21/Pasco/Zephyrhills_should_re.shtml
Steve Mace