[Vision2020] M-P Daily News: Sheriff defends mayor's decision to ask about gun restriction

[Saundra Lund]

Visionaries:

I find Sheriff Rausch's comments in today's Daily News . . . interesting in
light of his comments in yesterday's Spokesman Review, which I'll definitely
be remembering come election time next year.

"Latah sheriff sees safety with more guns 
He wants increase in citizen permits
Associated Press 
August 9, 2007

MOSCOW - The sheriff of Latah County, where a shooting rampage left four
dead and three wounded last May, wants more people to obtain concealed
weapons permits and carry guns, including on the University of Idaho campus,
to improve public safety.

"In my opinion, if there were more students with (concealed weapons
permits), the world would be safer," Sheriff Wayne Rausch told the Lewiston
Tribune. "Just because we (law enforcement officers) are charged with
protecting the public doesn't mean the public shouldn't be able to protect
itself."

The university bans guns except under supervised circumstances at its firing
range. Except for law enforcement officials, the university requires that
firearms "be transported to the range unloaded, encased, with a trigger lock
attached or otherwise rendered inoperable."

Rausch's idea also contradicts Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney, who late last
month asked for a legal opinion from the state attorney general's office on
whether the city has the authority to ban both concealed and exposed weapons
in public areas such as city buildings. . . . 

Rausch said people who apply for concealed weapons permits are screened and
are typically not a problem. He said some 540 people in the county now carry
concealed weapons. . . 
 
Rausch is the only law enforcement officer in the county with the authority
to issue concealed weapons permits to individuals. . . "
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/idaho/story.asp?ID=203801

<snort>  Yeah . . . the UI would be *much* safer if students could carry
concealed guns on campus -- NOT!  I truly thank God Rausch has no say over
the UI's policy because clearly, he has NO CLUE about the immature and
otherwise "irate" students UI faculty and staff deal with on a regular
basis.  Perhaps he should spend some time in those folks' shoes before he
runs off at the mouth proving what a complete and total nitwit he is.

Note, too, this is the same sheriff who lied on TV by saying Jason Hamilton
didn't have a concealed weapons permit.  Fortunately, Joel Mills from the
Lewiston Tribune was present to set the record straight about what the
records actually show rather than what Rausch wishes they showed  :-)

And, here's today's article where he modifies his tune to say that
apparently ONLY those working in city and county buildings deserve special
protection in his book from the "irate" folks they deal with whom he thinks
should be carrying concealed weapons.  What a flippin' hypocritical nitwit
he is!!!

"Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Sheriff defends mayor's decision to ask about gun restriction
Rausch has concerns for enforcement of firearm rules in public buildings
By Tara Roberts, Daily News staff writer
August 10, 2007

Latah County Sheriff Wayne Rausch said he supports Moscow Mayor Nancy
Chaney's decision to look into what power Moscow has to restrict guns in
public parks and city-owned facilities.

"I don't think it's a good idea for there to be arms in the (City) Council
chambers anymore than I think it's good for there to be arms in the (county)
commissioners' chambers," Rausch said Thursday. 

"It's an attempt to prevent loss of life, and I agree 100 percent with it."

The issue stems from a letter City Attorney Randy Fife sent at Chaney's
request to the Idaho Attorney General's Office asking what authority, if
any, the city has to restrict firearms in buildings like City Hall, the
Eggan Youth Center and the Moscow Police Department.

Rausch said signs alone do not prevent people from bringing guns into
buildings where they are banned.

He cited the Latah County Courthouse as an example. Although there are signs
stating guns are not allowed in the facility, there are not metal detectors
or armed guards to enforce the rule.

Rausch said he is sure armed people have come into the courthouse despite
the signs.

"It's been my recommendation that we have a magnetometer at every available
entrance, and that we take better provisions to better protect that
building," he said.

He said the courthouse and city buildings are vulnerable to violent
incidents, but it's expensive to take measures that would make them more
secure.

"It's of major concern and most of it's prohibitive just due to cost," he
said.

The county has installed security cameras in the courthouse as a safety
measure.

"Most of the time you're in there, you're gonna notice there's cameras in
there saying, 'We're watching you,' " Rausch said.

Rausch said he is "a very strong Second Amendment proponent" and has no
problem with concealed weapons permits, but understands the reasoning behind
the mayor's request.

There have been several incidents recently when people have come into city
and county buildings "very irate," he said.

Moscow Police Chief Dan Weaver, who met with Rausch and Chaney to discuss
the gun-restriction issue Thursday, said such incidents concern city and
county leaders.

"People have come into City Hall or other city buildings and become
extremely angry - yelling, cursing, demeaning to employees," Weaver said.
"With that type of anger shown, it does concern us that we need to try to
take some steps to protect our folks."

Chaney said the city is considering other safety measures for employees,
such as installing panic buttons in some locations.

As far as enforcing a gun restriction, Chaney said the city will "cross that
bridge when we get to it."

"I'm not under the illusion that even if the attorney general's opinion is
we have the authority to regulate firearms in city facilities that would
stop" violent incidents, she said.

Thursday's meeting was not the first time Rausch, Chaney and Weaver have
discussed firearms and public safety, and it won't be the last.

Weaver said they started talking about "the proliferation ... of gun
violence in this area" after Jason Hamilton's May 19-20 shooting spree in
Moscow left four dead, including Hamilton, his wife and Moscow Police Sgt.
Lee Newbill.

Weaver said the issue is about intimidation as well as gun violence.

Chaney said guns in public meetings could intimidate people and hinder their
ability to openly testify.

The city would be remiss if it didn't address the issues of safety and gun
violence, Weaver said.

"We think that it would be wise and prudent and in everybody's interest to
regulate firearms in public meetings and public buildings," he said. 
"We are trying to preempt problems here." 

Tara Roberts can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 234, or by e-mail at
troberts at dnews.com."


Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.
- Edmund Burke