Nitro police Chief Steve Walker asked city attorney Johnnie Brown for some advice on a topic he is typically well versed in - guns.
Walker said Tuesday during a City Council meeting that he wants to ensure all Nitro law enforcement officers are following the new concealed weapons carrying law - House Bill 4145 - that allows individuals to carry concealed weapons without obtaining a permit or requiring safety training. The bill is not law yet, but Walker wants to get ahead of any transitional issues that may arise.
"I have some concerns," Walker said of the new concealed carrying law. "But the law is the law, so the concerns I have I will have to live with."
The Nitro Police Department joined the coalition of law enforcement officers opposed to the legislation. Walker also serves at the West Virginia Fraternal Order of Police President.
The concern is about officer and public safety, Walker said.
"Before you got your drivers license somebody took you out and let you learn how to drive the car," Walker said. "My biggest concern is they are allowing anybody over the age of 21 to carry concealed in West Virginia."
This was the second consecutive year Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin vetoed legislation that relaxed the state's concealed weapons carrying law. Lawmakers this year voted to override the veto.
"Prior to the new legislation concerning open carry law, businesses and government were allowed to restrict certain access or meetings, such as government buildings," Brown said.
Brown intends to review the new law to see if Nitro can restrict certain areas.
"People have Second Amendment rights, that trumps everything, so we just have to make sure what we do doesn't restrict any of those rights," Brown said. "But again, we want to give a level of comfort for something [openly carrying a weapon] that may be an unusual action to have people experience because of this new law."
Brown suspects the issue will be on the agenda at the next quarterly meeting for municipal attorneys.
"I converse quite a bit with other attorneys from the state on municipalities and this is certainly a hot topic," Brown said.
As an avid hunter and staunch Second Amendment supporter, Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt expressed reservations.
"We just don't want [weapons] carried into our court hearings, council chambers and possibly our parks," Casebolt said. "Johnnie is going to look at it and decide just what all the law allows."
Casebolt, Brown and Walker said the city will be prepared once the law goes into effect.
In other business, council:
n Reminded citizens the deadline for filing to run for public office is March 25. Filings take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at City Hall.
n Approved a $6,389,219 budget for the city. The budget will be made public and published in the newspaper.
n Approved starting to accept engineering bids on addressing the riverbank erosion at Nitro City Park.
n Approved starting to accept bids for World War I memorial-style street signs for 1st Avenue.
n Approved March 1 meeting minutes.