Councilmember Pruitt moved and the council voted to repeal the previously adopted local gun ordinance; the repeal carried in a recorded voice/vote during the meeting and councilmembers then discussed a revised draft described as an “ordinance establishing gun identification and procedures.”

Pruitt said the revised draft removes a 30-day weapon-holding provision that conflicted with state law and that the rewrite clarifies identification rules for minors and provides “the ability, if there is a court case, to actually do something with it.” Pruitt argued the rewritten ordinance gives the city “more teeth” and said, “If we get 1 gun, it's worth it.”

Police and legal staff had provided input during the drafting process. A police chief present at the meeting told the council he had met with city legal staff and given input about conditions under which an officer could take a weapon when a person lacked identification and how a person could reacquire a weapon.

Councilmembers debated procedure, with some members expressing concern that repealing the old ordinance before the new one was enacted would leave the city with no ordinance on the books. The council ultimately voted to pull the new draft out of the public-safety committee and to introduce it on the floor, then carry it over to the next regular meeting for additional review and to allow the clerk to receive a certified copy for the record.

The council directed that the revised ordinance be vetted in public safety discussions with city attorneys, the district attorney’s office and other stakeholders before final action. No final adoption of the new ordinance occurred at this meeting.