By Tracie Mitchell
Staff Writer 

Ten Sleep moves forward with concealed carry policy

Board votes 4-1 to keep working on policy

 

March 15, 2018



TEN SLEEP –Ten Sleep School Board board members elected to continue with working on polishing and perfecting the concealed carry policy with a vote of four for the policy and one against.

Ten Sleep School Board members: Chuck Powell, Jane Thurston, Tess Greet and Terill Mills stated at Monday’s board meeting that they were in favor of implementing a concealed carry policy even though the thought scares them to the core, because the safety of the student is the most important aspect. Board member Jared Lyman stated that he is leaning against the policy out of respect for the opinions of concerned citizens who contacted him personally.

Several community members stated their opinion about the proposed policy. Ten Sleep resident Dan Rice stated that he was supportive of a policy being put in place but stressed to the board that he felt that a great deal of thoughtfulness should go into who is allowed to carry and that the board should never be concerned about saying no to someone interested in carrying. He also stressed that he felt that anyone approved to conceal carry should realize that being allowed to conceal carry is a privilege not a right and that the privilege could be rescinded at the discretion of the board.

Community member C.J. Grimes stated to the board, in response to the article in the Northern Wyoming Daily News [Feb.14] which stated that no one seemed opposed to the policy, that he was opposed to implementing the policy as it is written for several reasons. “School security is an important job but it is not one that should be assigned to an employee that is already fully taxed … even one incident or injury that

occurs as a result of this policy is unacceptable,” Grimes stated while reading a letter he sent to each board member.

Ten Sleep School technology director Boyd Whitlock stated that he oversees the majority of mechanisms put in place to protect the students and that unfortunately, despite the safeguards, there is no guarantee that there isn’t some scenario out there where a shooter can gain entry into the school. He stated having teachers and staff armed isn’t a perfect idea but the students must be protected. “I’m hoping and this is my greatest hope, I’m hoping that the concept that, we have this in place, and we have a group of [anonymous] people that are carrying guns in the school and we can designate the school as no longer being a gun free school, that 99, maybe even more, percent of those people that want to do harm to our children, never even try.”

After public comment the board started working on the proposed policy, discussing with Washakie County Sheriff Steve Rakness specific ideas and concepts which needed to be implemented or changed. After hours of working on the policy the board decided to defer further discussion and changes to the next board meeting, April 9.

 
X
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024

Rendered 02/28/2024 15:12