Aspen City Council\u2019s proposal to ban people from carrying guns in city-owned buildings was characterized by members of the public Monday as \u201claughable\u201d and \u201csilly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just over a half dozen people spoke during public comment, telling council not to pass the new law<\/a>, which elected officials passed on first reading.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems to imply you know better than us,\u201d said one woman who lives in Garfield County, calling council\u2019s action \u201claughable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe audacity of you.\u201d<\/p>\n Another Garfield County resident told council she does not want to be disarmed in Aspen and it\u2019s her Second Amendment right to carry a gun.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are not above the Supreme Court and you are not above the law of the land,\u201d she said, saying Aspen\u2019s effort is silly.<\/p>\n Councilman Skippy Mesirow told that woman<\/a> that when he saw her gun strapped to her leg, he couldn\u2019t concentrate on anything else and he felt a wash of fear come over him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a complete shift of energy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry that your concentration is so small,\u201d she shot back. \u201cMy rights do not end where your fears begin.\u201d<\/p>\n The ordinance was introduced after council members heard from some city staffers who said they want to feel safe in their workplace.<\/p>\n And with increased deadly weapon violence around the United States, council members are concerned for the personal safety of visitors, guest and employees.<\/p>\n Councilman Ward Hauenstein said it\u2019s a symbolic measure and would not be actively enforced with metal detectors or searches.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not a politically correct measure,\u201d he said, adding it\u2019s to protect the public and city staff, the latter of which are not allowed to carry weapons in their workplaces.<\/p>\n Hauenstein also said he doesn\u2019t agree with open carry laws.<\/p>\n \u201cI think open carry is stupid because you become the first target in an incident,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Councilwoman Rachel Richards pointed out that several large companies like Walmart and Walgreens have banned guns from entering their stores.<\/p>\n Aspen resident Andrew Sandler said he doesn\u2019t want to be in a place where he can\u2019t defend himself and guns are necessary for that.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t legislate against crazy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Aspen residents Bob Morris and Phyllis Bronson separately supported council and the ordinance.<\/p>\n \u201cI commend council for taking such a proactive stance,\u201d Morris said, adding he is currently applying for a concealed weapon permit.<\/p>\n Bronson said gun control is the No. 1 issue in this country and anyone who thinks guns are the answer is wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cAspen is not Garfield County and we can make our own decisions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Council will consider the ordinance again on second reading Oct. 8.<\/p>\n