Sturtevant Moves Conceal Carry at Village Hall Forward to Board

Sturtevant trustees were divided over Police Chief Sean Marschke's recommendation about carrying concealed weapons at Village Hall.

Marschke thinks that the village should not ban properly permitted weapons from Village Hall for a number of reasons:

• Enforcement is implausible given the lack of resources; namely, manned metal detectors at the entrance;

• The risk of having a permitted carrier return their weapon to lock it in their vehicle is too great for a break in and a stolen gun on the street;

• Most people who will apply, go through the training and receive their permit are law-abiding and pose little risk in the first place;

• Criminals will bring in a gun, banned or no, and do harm if that's what they want to do.

State statute retains the ban on weapons in the police station and in municipal courtrooms.

"I am opposed to weapons allowed anywhere on village campus," said Trustee Linda Busha. "If guns are banned in the police station and the municipal court, we should stay consistent."

She also pointed out that while residents rarely come to Village Board meetings, when there is a crowd, it's because people are angry and that makes her nervous.

Trustees Chris Larsen and Chris Wright support Marschke's opinion.

"A posted sign won't do any good," he said.

Larsen agreed.

"It's a matter of the devil you know versus the devil you don't," he said. "Those who go through the training should have a cooler head."

But if the village does ban weapons at Village Hall, there could be some liability issues, too. Should trustees vote to ban weapons, Sturtevant loses its immunity under the state statute yet remains protected if they vote to allow weapons at Village Hall.

Another point to consider was how the Personal Policy Committee would incorporate conceal carry into the personnel manual for municipal employees if the village adopts Marschke's recommendation.

Trustees will also have to adopt some statutes that give police the ability to enforce a business' right to ban weapons from their premises.

The Village Board will discuss the matter further and possibly vote on it at the Sept. 20 meeting.