Council reverses course on gun-law change

Northwest Montana News Network

Making a complete reversal, the Columbia Falls City Council has decided against a law change that would have allowed firing weapons in the city for special events.

The City Council on Monday voted 5-1 against the second reading of a measure that would have amended the city's law banning the use of weapons.

Councilman Dave Petersen was the sole vote for the change. Mayor Jolie Fish was absent.

"What am I missing here?" Petersen asked before the vote. "This ordinance seems well written and this seems like a good event for the city."

Several City Council members said Monday they changed their minds on the amendment.

The proposal came about after a group became interested in holding a rendezvous event in Columbia Falls. Typically those events include firing black-powder weapons.

In February the council directed city staff to draft language modifying the law. Under current law, any weapon that discharges a projectile is not allowed. The change would have set up an exception for permitted events.

Last month the City Council approved the first reading of the amendment. The council heard from several residents last month and Monday who said the permit was a bad idea.

"I support the rendezvous activities in town which has a lot of historic applications. I'm not in favor of discharging firearms. That may not be in the best interest in the long run," Chris Tesar told the council Monday.

Early plans indicated the rendezvous might be held during Heritage Days.

Matt McConville asked the council not to pass the change. McConville, the president of the Heritage Days committee, said he was not speaking on behalf of the committee.

"I would not be in favor of changing the weapons ordinance," he said. "I think we can find another place for the rendezvous to fire weapons outside the city limits."

The amendment would have set up a permitting process under which someone could apply to the city to hold an event where weapons are discharged. The application would have been reviewed by the police chief and gone to the city council for final approval.

Several City Council members said they have had second thoughts since the idea was first presented.

"There's the misconception out there that we were going to stage an event at River's Edge park and many people are upset about that. That was just one potential use," council member Mike Shepard said. He added that the board was looking at ways to get people to stay in town after the Heritage Days parade.

Shepard also noted that many people have thought the change would allow black-powder weapons shooting in the city limits at any time.

Councilman Doug Karper agreed that people misunderstood the intent.

"I don't mind setting this up with this much review," said Karper. "If we pass this we're not going to allow black-powder shooting in Columbia Falls. There's a lot of misconception out there about this."