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State College council to discuss firearms ordinance
Jessica VanderKolk
May 6, 2011 8:38am EDT

State College Borough Council will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. Monday to reconsider an amendment to the parks ordinance related to firearms.

The ordinance currently states no one may carry, concealed or openly, firearms or other dangerous weapons in local parks.

Tim Havener, president of the central chapter of Firearms Owners Against Crime, earlier this year notified the borough and other municipalities of a conflict with state law, which does not prohibit carrying firearms in parks and does not allow municipalities to regulate lawful possession.

Last month, council agreed not to change the ordinance, but approved a resolution to the state League of Cities and Municipalities, asking it to lobby for a change to state law that would prohibit firearms in parks and municipal buildings. Havener has followed up with several municipalities, including Borough Council on Monday, when he and Councilman Peter Morris argued about the issue.

Police Chief Tom King said his department has received no complaints in the recent past of anyone carrying or discharging weapons in parks in the borough, or in College or Harris townships, which borough police also cover.

“That ordinance has been on the books for a long time,” he said. “It isn’t one that creates any police problems.”

If the ordinance is changed, King doesn’t anticipate that alone making a difference.

“As long as they’re of age and don’t have other prohibitions against carrying a weapon, many people carry firearms and, oftentimes, people don’t even know it if they have a conceal permit,” he said, noting a larger concern is the combination of alcohol and firearms.

Jessica VanderKolk can be reached at 235-3910.

Read more: http://www.centredaily.com/2011/05/0...#ixzz1LbDLIbmx