Should people visiting Fresno City Hall carry guns inside? Elected officials disagree
A proposed policy that would prevent anyone from legally carrying a concealed gun in Fresno City Hall has drawn ire and skepticism from councilmembers.
Mayor Lee Brand is set to propose a new ordinance forbidding people from carrying guns in City Hall even if they have concealed carry permits, commonly called a CCW, which can be granted by a police chief or sheriff following a vetting process.
New security measures including metal detectors went up at the entrance of City Hall in December, but state law still allows CCW holders to carry guns in the building. The proposed ordinance would add the legally concealed guns to the items not allowed through the front door, which includes pepper spray, pocket knives, multi-tools and stun guns, among others.
The proposed measure is ill-conceived, according to Councilmember Garry Bredefeld. “It creates an illusion that the building is secure. It is not,” he said on Wednesday. “It erodes the constitutional, God-given right for people to protect themselves.”
A CCW permit-holder, Bredefeld has often voiced his support for the 2nd Amendment. Detractors of concealed-carry permits argue they should not be protected under the amendment.
The proposal comes as mass shootings in public places appear to be on the rise in America. The gun control debate commonly comes down to whether an armed public makes a community safer or more at risk.
Bredefeld said the proposed rule would create a “gun-free zone” inside City Hall, making the building less safe. “Law enforcement can’t be everywhere,” he said. “They know that. We know that. Maniacs who want to cause harm know that.”
Brand said City Hall will be anything but a “gun-free zone” because security guards are armed, and the proposed plan calls for a number of armed officers to be on-site during business. The council paid for a study last year.
The mayor stressed he is a supporter of CCWs and introduced legislation in 2011 to allow more people in the city to legally carry guns. He said his new proposed law and other recent changes would help secure the building.
“I fully support 2nd Amendment rights,” he said on Wednesday. “But, at City Hall, we have a duty and obligation to protect people.”
Public buildings like courthouses routinely screen for weapons and do not allow guns to be carried by anyone other than a member of law enforcement. “We’re not doing anything inconsistent with other cities,” Brand said.
The security measures, including X-ray machines for bags, put in place in December are set up at City Hall’s public front entrance.
Employees for the city with proper access badges are allowed to enter the building from the rear through a parking lot that is not gated. Employees are not allowed to carry concealed guns either.
Mass shooting
Fresno’s most recent mass shooting came as a shock to the community on Nov. 17, when four men were killed and six more injured while watching TV at a friendly gathering.
Councilmember Esmeralda Soria said violence like the November shooting is a reminder that leaders have to consider legislation like what has been proposed. “Given the mass shootings that have occurred around the nation and locally,” she said on Wednesday, “we will take our responsibility seriously to ensure our employees and the public are safe while maintaining everyone’s constitutional rights.”
Brand said he plans to discuss potentially changing the security measures on the back of the building with members of the council, adding he expects his proposal to pass next week.
Councilmember Luis Chavez said he acquired a CCW in the past few years after someone broke into his home and after he received threats on social media. He said he would not support the mayor’s proposal without measures that would secure the parking lot.
He said that CCWs are not given to just any “Joe Schmo,” and require a process that includes background checks, safety training and mental health screenings.
Chavez said it’s important for the public to know the issue at hand is not about taking guns away from gun owners. “We are really having a discourse on the security of the building,” he said.
“I still have threats to myself and my office,” he said. “People should be able to protect themselves.”
The council is expected to vote on the mayor’s proposal at the next meeting, Jan. 16.
Past CCW discussions
Bredefeld tried in 2017 to change Fresno’s policy to allow permitted city employees to carry guns while on the job. The idea was to give employees who felt unsafe in the field the ability to apply to carry a gun.
The debate followed the April 18, 2017, mass shooting allegedly carried out near downtown by Kori Muhammad, according to investigators. He has been charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.
Detractors said the policy would be a financial liability for the city. The idea didn’t get enough support from the council and never came to a vote.
This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
