Board mulls allowing guns in Arizona county building
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KINGMAN, Ariz. -- An Arizona county is considering a plan to remove the metal detector at its administration building and allow people to freely carry guns at the location as they carry out government business.
Mohave County added the walk-through metal detector and gun lockers a few years ago, subjecting people to security and forcing them to stow their guns before entering the building. But the county is now exploring an idea to let people carry guns in the building.
At a meeting Wednesday, the northwest Arizona county's board of supervisors directed staff to evaluate the idea, The Daily Miner reports.
``I think the staff and the citizens have a right to provide for their own protection,'' Supervisor Steve Moss said.
Arizona law allows local governments to direct people carrying guns to leave them in their car or lock them in a lock box before entering a government building.
``An armed society is a polite society,'' Mohave Valley resident Roy Hagemyer said. ``No one's going to come in here shooting up the place if they know there might be 40 other people with guns.''
Guns were banned in the county administration building in March 2010 after a protest outside the location, the newspaper reported.
In separate action, the board drew applause from people in the audience when it put a moratorium on enforcing the county's dress code for meeting attendees and directed aides to prepare a shorter version for the board to consider.
The dress code prohibited halter tops, tank tops, mini-skirts, short shorts, anything that would leave underwear exposed and clothing that advertised alcohol, drugs, tobacco or has offensive language printed on it. All tattoos with advertising or offensive language had to be covered.
It also outlawed all hats and head coverings unless a person had religious or medical exception.
Since it was approved in 2010, the dress code has been twisted to prohibit wearing any article of clothing with an American flag on it, Supervisor Hildy Angius said.
``Personally I don't care what you wear. I think we should get rid of this,'' Angius said.
Moss suggested a ``no shirt, no shoes, no service'' policy.
