Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Firearms topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lufkin council approves first reading of ordinance banning unlawful firearms discharge
Summary
At a regular meeting, the Lufkin City Council held a public hearing with no speakers and approved on first reading an ordinance to prohibit unlawful discharge of weapons inside city limits while retaining limited exceptions and conforming to state law.
The Lufkin City Council at its regular meeting conducted a public hearing and approved on first reading an ordinance that would prohibit the unlawful discharge of weapons within city limits.
City staff member Kevin told the council the Lufkin Police Department receives numerous complaints about firearms being discharged in neighborhoods and said the proposed ordinance would give Lufkin Police a more specific enforcement tool focused on private property while preserving certain exceptions. Assistant Police Chief Buddy Cross and City Attorney Christy Skiller were present, Kevin said, and staff recommended approval.
Kevin said the city currently relies on a disorderly-conduct ordinance that is limited in scope by references to public property; the new ordinance would be aimed at protecting public health and safety while allowing "reasonable exceptions," including self-defense and discharges on tracts of land greater than 10 acres. Council members asked whether any annexation agreements or prior concessions would be superseded; staff said a separate ordinance and state law govern annexation concessions and that the new ordinance tracks state law on those issues.
The council opened the public hearing, heard no speakers, closed the hearing and moved approval. A motion and second were recorded and the mayor announced, "That motion carries." The transcript does not record a roll-call vote or list individual yes/no votes.
Because the council approved only the first reading, the ordinance is still subject to further readings or procedural steps before final adoption. The public hearing on the item was held during the meeting and no members of the public addressed the council on the ordinance.
