Guns in Fairbanks

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner has the story, "Should you bring weapons to a heated public debate?" Here's an excerpt:

FAIRBANKS — Carrying a firearm into a municipal building is legal, but is it wise to openly display a gun at a heated public meeting?

The presiding officer of the Borough Assembly said openly displayed sidearms at a meeting on Feb. 25, when emotions ran high, didn’t bother him. But some assembly members said it concerns them. Borough officials said no one complained to them about the firearms, however.

On the agenda at that Feb. 25 meeting was the introduction of an air pollution control plan, and it drew more than 100 people to the meeting, including vocal opposition. Many criticized the plan and some criticized the municipal leaders. People held picket signs. There was shouting at assembly members and at the mayor. There were threats.

Officials with the three area municipalities said firearms are allowed in most municipal buildings and at public meetings. State law prohibits local governments from restricting gun rights any more than the state’s restrictions.

But that doesn’t mean openly carrying a firearm to a stormy public meeting is an exercise in good judgment, according to Assemblywoman Nadine Winters and Assemblymen Tim Beck, Guy Sattley, Hank Bartos and Matt Want.

“I think it’s an intimidation factor,” Beck said. “And that’s impeding the public process.”

Want, one of the newest assembly members, said if the firearms were meant to intimidate, then that’s wrong.

“I very much appreciate people’s ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Bbut to me, if it’s used to intimidate, then it’s an abuse of that right.”

Bartos said openly carried firearms at heated public meetings make him nervous.

Sattley said the fact that bringing a gun to a meeting is legal doesn’t make it advisable.

“I think that’s not the place for it,” he said. “It’s already heated enough without that added to the twist.”

None of the assemblymen said they saw the openly displayed firearms. But Winters did.

“Did I feel threatened the other night or worried? No, not even one little bit,” she said.

Click to read the whole thing. The "open carry vs. concealed carry" debate carry is in full swing, but it sounds like the open carry movement is winning.