Killeen City Council to consider banning guns from council chambers
Published: Mon, 12/11/23
Killeen City Council to consider banning guns from council chambers
The Killeen City Council will consider this week banning guns from the council chambers during future meetings.
Herald | File
Killeen Daily Herald
By Kevin Limiti | Herald
December 10, 2023
The Killeen City Council will consider Tuesday removing the ability for guns to be brought into the City Council chambers.
The item was added late Friday to the council agenda for Tuesday’s regular meeting.
“Consider a memorandum/resolution repealing Resolutions 16-075R and 16-076R and directing staff to post notice to prohibit the carrying of firearms at city open meetings,” the item reads.
The controversial issue comes shortly after two meetings in a row when former councilman Jonathan Okray brought in guns — first a shotgun and then an assault rifle — into the meeting. He was kicked out of the latter meeting for interrupting. In the former meeting, he addressed the council on the issue guns after Patsy Bracey put in a citizen’s petition about removing guns from the chamber for people’s safety.
In an unrelated case, Okray was arrested Wednesday for allegedly berating 911 operators. It’s unclear if Okray’s arrest had anything to do with the item being added to the agenda.
In an email to the Herald, Killeen Mayor Debbie Nash-King said “Residents and staff who have attended council meetings have shared their concerns about weapons being in the council chambers due to the increased hostility some residents who frequently participate in the citizen comments have toward certain council members, including Mr. (City Manager) Kent Cagle. However, the council (has) the authority to amend the ordinance not to allow firearms in the council’s chamber.”
She said council members Ramon Alvarez, Michael Boyd and Jessica Gonzalez are in favor of putting signs outside of City Hall to not allow guns into the chamber.
Nash-King didn’t comment when asked how she would vote should it come down to a tie.
At previous meetings where the issue of guns was discussed, residents protested and openly carried guns.
Harker Heights and Waco don’t allow guns in their council chambers, but Copperas Cove and Temple do.