Council members vote to allow city employees to carry concealed weapons

Colorado Springs City Council members voted on Tuesday to allow City employees to carry concealed weapons in City buildings.

Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach pushed the proposal. Bach said there have been no dangerous incidents, but he wants employees to be safe.

Before, only elected officials and the public could carry concealed firearms in most of the 139 City buildings. Now, City employees can too.

“The last thing I want is to stand up here and have you ask me, ‘Mayor, why didn’t you protet those people who were hurt?'” Mayor Bach said.

Council member, Val Snider, told KRDO NewsChannel 13 that he supported the change.

“Those who undergo the license to carry a concealed weapon go through stringent training,” Snider said. “They have background checks. They are just folks that have shown to be really responsible.”

Other Council members like President Scott Hente and President Pro Tem Jan Martin were against the change.

“I’m just not convinced that more guns in the workplace is the right answer,” Hente said.

People are still unable to carry firearms inside the police department.

Mayor Bach said the City now has to determine what the concealed carry policies will be for each individual City building.