Concealed Carry Ban in City Buildings Backed

A city committee Tuesday supported enacting a ban on firearms in municipal buildings, although one alderman questioned whether it was a feel-good law that would do little to make the buildings safe.

Five aldermen on the city's Legislative & Licensing Committee asked staff to draft an ordinance to ban firearms from being carried — openly or concealed — into municipal buildings such as City Hall and the library.

If approved by the Common Council next month, Brookfield would post signs at the building entrances alerting people firearms are prohibited.

It was unclear whether the ban would be limited to guns or would include other weapons such as tasers, allowed under the state's concealed carry law that goes into effect Nov. 1.

Ald. Gary Mahkorn, the committee's chairman, called the ban "a wise thing."

City Human Resources Director James Zwerlein said city department heads favored a ban and accompanying signage. Under existing city rules, "employees cannot bring weapons into the workplace," Zwerlein said.

Other municipalities have already passed bans, such as and DePere. Many others, including Elm Grove, are considering it.

Ald. Rick Owen, who owns a Pewaukee signage store, said he has had clients inquiring about firearm ban signs.

"If you think you're going to create a safe environment by (posting a sign), you're crazy," Owen said. "A criminal isn't going to go, 'Oh! I'm not going to do that.'"

Ald. Bill Carnell said the sign and ban would be a precautionary deterrent. With guns not being allowed or commonly seen, the sight of one would alert employees to a problem, he said.

But Owen said that would only occur if the gun was openly carried or "you have a metal detector out front.

"If somebody's intent on doing it, they're going to do it," he added.

Ald. Chris Blackburn questioned whether the move would lead to more guns being kept in cars in municipal building parking lots, which could cause break-ins and thefts of firearms.

Despite those concerns, the committee directed City Clerk Kristine Schmidt to work with the city attorney and other staff in drafting an ordinance for future consideration.

Firearms cannot be banned in city parks. But they already are banned from police departments and municipal courts. Aldermen told Schmidt to be as expansive as possible under existing legal exceptions.