City officials defend weapons ban

The Elko City Council followed the law when it met in an emergency session Friday afternoon and banned weapons in the downtown corridor during the Elko Motorcycle Jamboree last weekend, according to City Manager Linda Ritter.

"As far as I know, this is the first time in the city's history that the council has met in an emergency session and amended the city code," Ritter said. "No one thought there were going to be so many people carrying weapons out in the open during the jamboree."

The council met after Police Chief Clair Morris contacted Ritter, requesting the council address the unexpected display of weapons at the rally. Ritter contacted Mayor Mike Franzoia who instructed Ritter to contact city council members and organize the emergency meeting. The Elko Daily Free Press was not notified of the meeting.

"There was just so much going on that day," Ritter said. "Yes, we should have called the paper but so much was happening."

Under Nevada's Open Meetings Law, written notice of all meetings of all public bodies must be posted in at least four places within the jurisdiction of the public body and mailed at least three working days before the meeting is to occur. Emergency meetings don't fall under that statute, however, and the city council may convene without notifying the press, although Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa suggests they should.

Ritter said the city council amended City Code 5-1-6, regulating firearms and special events. The amendment stated that "it shall be unlawful for any person to carry any gun, pistol or other firearm anywhere within an area designated by resolution of the city council, provided that nothing herein shall apply to any sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman, marshal or other peace officer or other persons associated with law enforcement who shall carry any pistol or firearm in the lawful exercise of the duties of his office, and provided further that nothing herein shall apply to any person holding a valid concealed weapons permit."

During the emergency session, Councilman Charlie Myers said he felt the ordinance and resolution were in the best interest of public safety. Police told the council that the combination of alcohol and weapons at the event was a threat to public safety.

The city council and law enforcement agencies have been criticized for the increased security at the jamboree and the amendment of the city code. Letters sent to the Free Press said some of the officers were too zealous as they patrolled the corridor and that their attitude could provoke, rather than prevent, altercations.

"We did some intelligence prior to this event," Morris said. "The outlaw motorcycle gangs weren't packing guns in Laughlin, but we start getting calls that these guys are carrying guns here."

A gun battle between members of the Hells Angels and Mongols at the River Run Rally in Laughlin that left three bikers dead April 27 concerned Elko's law enforcement agencies, Morris said.

"We had groups of people here who don't like each other and who for the last 18 months have been killing each other," he said. "When I talked to the Laughlin officials, they said the bikers were carrying ball-peen hammers, crescent wrenches, clubs and knives. They didn't mention handguns. When we saw them carrying handguns in the open we knew it was a dangerous situation."

The amendment to the city code was restricted to the dates of the jamboree and only in the corridor, Morris said.

"You don't have people packing guns at the Basque Festival or the Cowboy Poetry Gathering," he said. "We had to get the guns out of the corridor."

The PC madness has even invaded Nevada, one of the few formerly truly free places on earth. I suppose there was some justification, and they did create a time limit on the ban.

I thought this was a joke - here - Nevada?

I'd *bet* the only reason for this is what happened earlier this year down in Laughlin.

Like you say, at least it has a time limit.

Still shocked, though.

LVM

Maybe they should just declare murder, and unjustifiable homicide illegal.

Oh wait, they already did that.

What the Elko city council and city manager does not know is that you cannot legislate good behavior. You have to punish bad behavior, and by this resolution, all you have done is disarmed the law-abiding.

"Police told the council that the combination of alcohol and weapons at the event was a threat to public safety. (Elko Daily Free Press)

Then why not just ban alcohol instead in the small area involved for those four days?

Oh, I forget. Politicians so sanctimonious about violence are eager to have town profit from beer tax revenue!

Scandals of antigun politicians - and how-to guide for "outing!

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