Posted on 08/18/2010 5:04:33 AM PDT by marktwain
ROYAL OAK, Mich. Royal Oak officials have voted to allow licensed handgun owners to openly carry their weapons at a popular Detroit-area summer arts festival.
Commissioners on Monday night struck down a contract clause between the Ford Arts, Beats & Eats festival and the city about 10 miles north-northwest of Detroit that prohibited guns at the annual Labor Day weekend event.
Residents and public safety officials for weeks had expressed safety concerns. Proponents said state law and the Second Amendment allow a person who is licensed to carry a firearm, holstered and in plain sight.
Festival organizer Jon Witz said he supported the commission's decision.
Now in its 13th year, the festival was previously held in nearby Pontiac.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Completely unexpected!
The city had no choice. The michigan constitution doesn’t allow cities to make their own gun laws.
The city ALLOWS guns???? What is wrong with us!!?!?!?! Isn’t there a 2nd Amendment? Don’t we have a God-given right to have the means at hand to defend ourselves against bad guys???? When is this insanity going to end??????
The city is trying to sound like they “allowed” guns. The reality is that the city had no choice and wasted time voting on it.
Their options were to give up on their ban or face at least one lawsuit, probably more. Hopefully they learned their lesson and won’t try that nonsense again.
That is what I was thinking, not specific to the state but most licenses are for Concealed Carry. I think it is generally legal to carry a gun openly in most areas.
I am not a lawyer so don’t take this advice or a gun to the bank!
I suspect the city attorney told them that they would lose a lawsuit and that they should go ahead with the meaningless yes vote to save face.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.