GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.– An armed officer will be in attendance at every Grand Rapids city commission meeting.
The move is in response to the fact that armed citizens have taken guns to the public meetings.
Michigan law says that if someone has a license to carry a concealed weapon, they are allowed bring that gun to a public meeting.
In early January, Tom Lambert and other gun right supporters went to the podium during public comment with guns visible on their belts. They said that the city ordinance prohibiting concealed guns goes against state law, which allows the guns at public meetings.
At the meeting, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell said he doesn’t want to see guns at a public meeting, period. The mayor said the presence of guns could intimidate people from speaking their minds.
The armed officers have been in attendance since then.
The Kent County Commission is also considering having an armed deputy at their meetings as well.
