Gun ban opponents address city council

SANDPOINT — Social media was a buzz last week with a call to action for Second Amendment defenders to attend the Sandpoint city council meeting to voice their objection to Mayor Shelby Rognstad regarding their perception that he is proposing the implementation of gun-free zones.

“Shelby is trying to get more gun control laws passed, not just here in Sandpoint, but statewide,” the post said. “This socialist gun grabber needs to know the citizens are against him and his agenda!” the post said.

Thirty-plus people heeded the call of which eight read from well-prepared statements voicing their opinions regarding not only the lawsuit the county has filed against the city because of the Festival at Sandpoint’s gun ban, but also about a letter and survey that Rognstad sent to other city officials in the state requesting information about like situations.

One of the speakers lives in the city limits, the others live in nearby cities and either work in town or come to town to do business. Most of the messages referred to the constitution and the council’s obligation to uphold the tenets of the second amendment.

Cocolalla resident, Thomas Leo said that the mayor was “putting men, women and children in harm’s way.” He accused officials of putting the Festival’s contractual agreements with performers ahead of the safety of the community.

Craig Frick of Selle Valley said, “Each of you swore an oath to abide by the constitution, and this conduct violates that oath. Peoples rights have been denied.” Others stated that cities that had gun free zones were more apt to have mass shootings, and another said that it was her “God given right” to carry a gun.

Rognstad thanked the attendees for speaking out, but said that he wanted to clarify something for the record.

“Neither I nor council has put forward any effort to make gun free zones anywhere in the city. This was an incorrect claim on social media,” he said. He said that it’s important to make sure private property rights are protected and the question remains, is leasing out public property to a private entity make that property private?

He also said that the Festival has an “incredible impact on the community. It’s a cultural icon and a positive influence on all of our lives.”

The Idaho Second Amendment Alliance is one of the organizations that have been most vocal and they posted the letter written by Rognstad on their website. Their post says that the letter claims that Sandpoint might be financially harmed if people are disarmed.

The mayor’s letter refers to a bill before the state legislature introduced by Representative Christy Zito that prohibits public entities from leasing public property to private organizations that ban or discourage guns at specific events.

Rognstad wrote, “In Idaho, we all value the Second Amendment and appreciate the freedom to protect our safety and security through the right to bear arms. This proposed preemptive legislation is far reaching abridging our right to lease property for the benefit of our communities and our taxpayers. It also threatens the viability of concerts, entertainment events and other activities which feature artists with contract riders requiring a weapons ban and associated security.”

Attached was a brief survey that asked other Idaho city’s officials, “Does your city, county or other public entity within your jurisdiction lease any public property to a private entity for a private event which bans guns from the event?” And follow-up questions of who, what when.

The Bee reached out to Greg Pruitt, President of ISAA regarding the post on their website that read in part, “After his city helped disarm innocent Idahoans at a public park in Sandpoint, he’s now hoping to solidify his efforts by changing Idaho’s laws to allow ALL Idaho cities/towns to violate your right to keep and bear arms on public property.”

Pruitt responded to the Bee, “Mayor Rognstad’s effort to create more ‘gun-free’ zones in Idaho is unacceptable to Idaho’s gun owners. He is putting money above the natural rights of citizens and we will not stand for it. We oppose any effort by Mayor Rognstad to implement gun control in Idaho.”

One of the final speakers at the council meeting was Sandpoint resident Clay Hutchison who said that he believes that event organizers should be able to decide whether or not to control access.

“One shoe doesn’t fit all. If you don’t feel safe because you can’t carry, don’t go,” he said.