Lawmakers are discussing who should carry guns in the state capitol building. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee looked at two bills dealing with concealed firearms in the capitol.
Committee members killed Senate Bill 162, which permits certain legislators to carry concealed firearms in the state capitol building under certain conditions.
Dana Svendsen is with the Department of Public Safety, Highway Patrol. He opposes the measure saying Highway Patrol troopers take their responsibility to protect the capitol building and its occupants seriously. He says they have the proper training to handle crisis situations.
“What if something does happen,” Svendsen says. “What if the shooting starts and bullets start flying? Law enforcement responds and sees multiple people with firearms, or worse yet, still shooting. What do they do? Maybe the good guy, the legislator still shooting, trying to stop the threat. Maybe the bad guy. Who knows? Law enforcement has to make that split second decision, shoot or don't shoot, good guy or bad guy. This scenario has the potential to end very badly.”
But Senator Brock Greenfield, who is a prime sponsor of the measure, says the capitol needs more protection.
“You folks maybe have heard, maybe not, last year, during session, on one of our off days, there was an active shooter drill and it took an extended period of time before law enforcement found that active shooter,” Greenfield says. “Because this building is wide open, things echo through hallways, and you don’t know, it takes a long time to get from first floor from a little cubby hole up to forth floor.”
Legislators voted six to one to send Senate Bill 162 to the 41st legislative day.
Committee members voted five to two to pass Senate Bill 192, allowing the sergeant-at-arms to carry concealed firearms in the capitol building under certain conditions. Senator Brock Greenfield says the people hired to protect legislators should have the opportunity to do so. Opponents say they don’t think legislation is the proper way to address the issue.