Hastings City Council revisits weapons ordinance

After several weeks of work, the Hastings City Council will decide on a new gun law for the city on Monday.

Staffers have drafted an ordinance which re-works a proposal that was tabled in January.

"The idea is to be as minimalistic as we can as far as affected people's rights under the second amendment, but yet you balance that with the protection of the public who might be in those places, and that includes small children as well,” Hastings City Attorney Dave Ptak said.

The new proposal prohibits people with so-called "open carry" weapons from city buildings and parks, as was the law on the books previously.

But anyone with a valid "concealed carry" permit may enter city buildings or parks with their weapon except when a city council is meeting or school board meeting is in progress.

"We're simply following state law at this point in time,” Ptak said. “We're not trying to expand upon it, we're not trying to do anything else other than basically codify what state law is as it relates to concealed handguns."

There is also a clause in the proposal which prevents anyone from firing a gun inside city limits except in self-defense. The council will consider the proposal the next meeting and may vote on it as well.

The public is welcome to come to the council meeting and voice their opinion on the matter.