Port Takes Steps to Ban Concealed Weapons in City Buildings

After a heated debate, the Port Washington Common Council voted Tuesday to move forward with an ordinance that would ban concealed weapons in all city buildings.

Landing on the same day Wisconsin's new concealed weapons law went into effect, the discussion came on the heels of other communities — including and — deciding to prohibit weapons in municipal buildings.

In Port Washington, city employees and Police Chief Richard Thomas recommended the ban. That recommendation prompted the discussion on a proposed ban, much of which centered on hypothetical situations in which people brought guns to a Common Council meeting. 

Alderman Joe Dean said he worried that posting a sign banning concealed weapons would only stop law-abiding citizens from carrying weapons, instead of deterring those looking to commit a crime.

"We don't want a Columbine situation here where somebody walks in and the only person who's armed is the bad guy," Dean said. "I like giving the bad guys a little bit of pause ... It would be nice if they had to wonder who of the law-abiding citizens in that room had a gun."

But Alderman Jim Vollmar argued the target of the ban is not someone who enters City Hall with the intention of using a weapon. Rather, Vollmar hopes it would keep law-abiding citizens from bringing in a weapon that they might be unexpectedly moved to use in the heat of an argument.

"We're not trying to get the crazies," Vollmar said. "We're talking about the law-abiding citizen who comes in here and in the middle of the meeting becomes angry."

Alderman Paul Neumyer also argued for posting signs prohibiting concealed weapons. He said the knowledge that certain people were carrying weapons could make people hesitant to speak their minds or pick certain fights in a meeting.

“It can have a chilling effect," he said.

When it came to a vote, only Dean voted against a motion to direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance banning concealed weapons in municipal buildings.

Mayor Scott Huebner, who will work with City Attorney Eric Eberhardt on the ordinance, hopes to have it ready for the next council meeting on Nov. 15. The earliest a vote would come is Dec. 6.

Government officials aren't the only ones grappling with this debate. Business owners also have to decide whether to post signs prohibiting concealed weapons. Many businesses in Port have decided not to do so.

One popular reason is that the law clearly grants immunity from liability for violence to those businesses who allow concealed weapons. The law is less clear regarding businesses who prohibit concealed weapons.

These local businesses all said they will not post signs prohibiting concealed carry:

• "If somebody's going to bring a gun in here, they're going to bring a gun in here," said Tom Sharbuno, who works at . "It's nice to know law-abiding citizens could have them too."
• "People can bring their weapons in," said Andrea Mader, manager of . "I think the law is fabulous because I think before the laws were kind of wishy-washy, and now people know what's going on."
• "I have no plans to post a sign," said chiropractor Allen Spaude, who practices at 218 N. Franklin St. "It's extraneous effort to post the detail banning concealed weapons. It's easier to just go along with it."
• "I don't think it's going to be an issue at all," said Maira Kiesow, whose husband owns the .