Aurora says yes, Westminster says no to allowing guns in city buildings

On a razor-thin 4-3 vote, the Westminster City Council this week knocked down a proposal that would have opted out of a new state law that prohibits firearms from being brought into local government buildings.

But across town, members of the Aurora City Council gave initial unanimous approval to a similar ordinance — exercising a provision that allows local communities to cast off the gun restriction for their own property. The elected leaders of Colorado’s third-largest city will have to take a second vote on the issue next month to make it final.

The diverging votes, both taken Monday night, come as a growing number of Colorado cities and counties are opting out of the law. Passed by the legislature as Senate Bill 131, it “prohibits a person from knowingly carrying a firearm, both openly and concealed,” in municipal or county buildings, courthouses, polling places, and public or private schools, universities and child care centers.

About a dozen counties, cities and towns across the state have opted out of the law, which took effect July 1. They include Douglas, Teller, Routt, Mesa and Morgan counties, along with Palmer Lake, Monument and Castle Rock.

Aurora Councilman Curtis Gardner , who brought that city’s measure forward, framed the issue as one of local control versus state control.

“I think we are best suited to determine the safety and security of our buildings, not the state legislature,” he said Monday night.

Those against allowing firearms in city halls, like Westminster Councilman Obi Ezeadi, fear that guns may introduce new “variables” that could turn deadly in spaces — such as council chambers — that can feature heated debates over controversial issues.

“This area is safe, this building is safe. We’ve had no incidents. Let’s keep it that way,” he said Monday.

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