Whitewater Council Approves Public Buildings Firearm Ordinance

Whitewater prohibits guns in public buildings. (Jefferson County Daily Union, 9/7/2011)

Excerpt: The Whitewater Common Council on Tuesday approved a new city ordinance that will "prohibit entry or presence in public buildings in the city while carrying firearms."

The vote was 6-1, with councilperson Javonni Butler casting the sole dissenting ballot.

In July, the council had directed city staff to investigate the issue after the state Legislature passed a "concealed carry" gun law earlier this year that would allow qualified citizens to carry concealed guns so long as they had a permit. The state law specified exemptions as to where those firearms would be allowed, including police stations and schools, for example.

City Manager Kevin Brunner explained to the council that city staff investigated ordinances that were passed in other municipalities and that Whitewater's ordinance - officially called The Public Buildings Firearm Ordinance - is similar to those. In short, the ordinance calls for posting signs stating that no "firearm or weapon" is allowed in the public building where the sign is located.

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