Disgusted by weapons law

VIEWPOINT . . . By Phillip Elmore

In the May 23, 1997 edition of the Courier-Gazette, your article entitled "Board will outlaw weapons in all county buildings" left me feeling quite disgusted. This move by the Supervisors strikes me as a symbolic one, rather than any kind of constructive attempt to prevent violence in local government offices. The policy demonstrates hostility on the part of the Board to civilian firearms ownership, thinly disguised as an attempt to make our county buildings more safe.

Most remarkable were the comments of County Administrator Dan Kane, who actually stated that without such a prohibition on weapons, "there is nothing to stop someone from entering one of the county buildings and brandishing a weapon to intimidate employees."

To my knowledge, it is already illegal to threaten or otherwise intimidate another person with a weapon of any kind. Simply brandishing a firearm in any public place is also against the law. Mr. Kane's purely symbolic policy would not prevent someone from committing an act of violence. (It is my impression that people intent on murdering others do not bother to check their guns at the door out of respect for the law.) But it does unfairly target a significant segment of Wayne County's population: holders of legal New York State pistol permits. I find it endlessly ironic that, under this new policy, it would be illegal for me to carry my handgun into the same office that issued my pistol permit and to which I must go to register any other handguns that I purchase.

The Courier reported that "only Galen Supervisor Louis DeLisio voted against the move," and for this I must commend him. It's simply a shame that the other Board members are not more concerned with substance over symbolism.

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