2018

Todd Epp’s column about metal detectors is a disservice to the importance of public input

l3wis April 5, 2018 6Comments

There is really only one person’s temper I worry about at council meetings, and it isn’t any of the commenters, it’s the guy in charge, the Mayor. He has lashed out against the public several times, he has given the stink eye, he has given the long dark stare, he has huffed and puffed, he has made underhanded comments, he has made smart ass comments as commenters are coming up and leaving the podium. He has even followed citizens to their cars or waited by their vehicles after the meetings. Mike and now a deceased citizen actually almost got into a fist fight in the parking lot a couple of years back after the mayor confronted him.

To say all this anger is a one sided thing is freaking ridiculous. Todd Epp feels the mayor and council should be protected from the public, but sometimes I wonder if it’s the public that should be worried;

After last night’s outburst, I got to thinking: What if someone walked into the Council chamber, had a gun, got mad or was mentally unbalanced, and started firing?

I know there is a sign that says no firearms or dangerous weapons allowed in the building.

Actually I believe that sign has been taken down because our all knowing and gun happy state legislature has made it perfectly legal to bring guns to public meetings. I will agree with Todd on one level, I wish ALL government buildings were gun free zones. But I’m also not going to live my life in fear because a few people are passionate about their 1st Amendment rights.

To tell you the truth as someone who defends a vibrant and controversial public input, I deplore guns. I have never owned one or intend to. I also hate violence. I believe all the important battles are won with words, and maybe that is why are Mayor gets so angry, because he loses that battle every single week.

I believe our security guards at the meetings do a fantastic job, I also believe they understand 1st amendment rights. Just because some one might let the ‘S’ word slip during input, or call the mayor a SOB or F’cker doesn’t mean they are going to shoot up the place. It’s the quiet ones in the corner you have to worry about, and I always take a clear inventory of who is in the chambers when I go there. As a person who survived a night club fire, I have trained myself to be well aware of my surroundings in public places. Always know the nearest exits.

But for Mr. Epp to make the assumption that people with a temper may be some crazed lunatic that is going to shoot up the place is unfair, and quite frankly insulting. I would expect more from someone in the media who is supposed to support open government and freedom of speech. I guess if we don’t have the media anymore to defend us on our speech rights, we have to fall back on ourselves because apparently we are a bunch of gun crazed lunatics. Really Todd? Really?

I guess Councilor Rick Kiley will be on KSOO in the morning with Beth and Chad to talk about public input.