Hans Trousil arrogance revisited

Reader no4gman did his own digging into West Burlington and their knowingly violating state law regarding firearms. Or that could be negligently violating. Either way the result is clear:

In a council meeting held 8/12/2002, citizens read the State pre-emption law to the West Burlington City Council, and objected to the new ordinance to ban guns from city buildings.

The Mayor and Council then were INFORMED of the Law, but chose to break the law anyway!

(The matter was referred to the City Attorney, but I could not find a copy of the City Attorney's opinion.)

PUBLIC SAFETY – Discuss Restricting the Carrying of Firearms or Weapons in Public Buildings to Law Enforcement Personnel – Council Member Johnson said he asked for this topic to be placed on the Agenda. He said in the past the Council had required any one attending Council Meetings to be checked for weapons. He would like to see this reinstated.

Al Nielson, Hwy 99, presented a copy of the section of the Iowa Code which he said prohibits political subdivisions of the state from enacting an ordinance regulating the ownership, possession, legal transfer, lawful transportation, registration, or licensing of firearms when the ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation is otherwise lawful under the laws of the state. He said individuals who have permits to carry have already gone through specific procedures. He objects to further restrictions and believes it is prohibited.

The Council agreed to present the question to the City Attorney for an opinion.

http://www.westburlington.org/archive/minutes/2002/081202.htm

This is great that others are keeping an eye on Hans Trousil and his flying circus of a city council. In reply to his comment: "Maybe the voters in the next election will decide the issue," the voters had a chance and through negligence or apathy, they stayed home.

But if you want to understand the arrogance of an out-of-control political hack with a two-bit chip of power on his shoulder, read this from the council session dated 9/23/02:

Consider Ordinance Establishing Firearm/Weapons Free Zones in Municipal Buildings – Mayor Trousil presented an Ordinance prepared by the City Attorney to the Council for consideration. Crowner moved, second by Johnson, to approve the first consideration of an Ordinance establishing Firearm/Weapons free zones in Municipal Buildings in the City of West Burlington. Mayor Trousil asked for comments from the Council. There were none. Visitors in the audience wanted to comment on the Ordinance but the Mayor said the Council had heard all of the arguments before and did not feel they would add anything new. Council Member Hockett argued this was not the policy followed in the past. He said the Council had never denied public comment about any topic they wanted to discuss. Mayor Trousil said we have been through it all before and he doesn’t want to hear it again. He called for the roll call. Ayes: Lees, Crowner, Pilger and Johnson. Nays: Hockett. Motion carried.

http://www.westburlington.org/archive/minutes/2002/092302.htm

When Trousil spews out of his mouth the argument that only out of towners came to the council meeting to voice their concerns, he may have been right. There's no way to tell because he wouldn't allow the citizens to speak.

How dare a common resident of the town one lives in to voice a concern in Herr Trousil's presence.

Thanks to no4gman to bringing this to my attention. Outstanding.