Estancia, N.M., requires people be 'legally armed' to enter town meetings, ACLU threatens lawsuit

[left-of-center2012]

ESTANCIA, N.M. (KRQE) – A civil rights group is calling out a New Mexico town that will soon be requiring people to be “legally armed” to enter town meetings. Estancia Mayor Nathan Dial said the new rule set to go into effect Dec. 7 doesn’t mean everyone will be armed with a weapon.

“‘Legally armed’ is everything from showing up with the knowledge, willing to fight. The pen is mightier than the sword – to actually carrying, open-armed. Or, concealed carry,” Mayor Dial explained. “We are a Second Amendment city within a Second Amendment county,” Dial said.

He’s claiming this order is about protecting people’s Second Amendment rights and sending a message to the state. This comes as New Mexico is banning deadly weapons at the state capitol, starting Dec. 6. That includes firearms, knives, brass knuckles, and sharpened canes.

In response, the ACLU of New Mexico sent a letter to dial and the Estancia Board of Trustees, urging them to rescind the rule the ACLU claims is a First Amendment violation that could keep people from going to town meetings, and could also make some people feel unsafe. The ACLU is threatening a lawsuit if the Estancia board of trustees does not rescind the mayor’s rule by Nov. 30.

https://www.krqe.com/news/estancia-requires-people-be-legally-armed-to-enter-town-meetings-aclu-threatens-lawsuit/

[kimbutgar]

1. When someone gets shot and killed we'll see how long that law stays

Dumb asses need to learn the hard way.

[TigressDem]

3. Except the dumb a#### with the guns will have already taken a life.

IF ALL LIVES MATTER, why are these 2nd Amendment Rights Goons running free and killing with abandon and permission?

[TigressDem]

2. Yeah, what could go wrong with having guns in town hall meetings?

Even in the wild west, cowboys had to leave their guns when they went into a bar.

Leaving guns out of the town hall is a REALLY LOW BAR for civility.

[Beartracks]

4. It means "showing up with knowledge"? Weasel-y semantic bullshit.

[OldBaldy1701E]

9. Yeah, some attendees are going to need shovels to clear all that bullshit. (n/t)

[Beartracks]

10. A bunch of citizens should show up "armed" with shovels, to make that very point. n/g

[alittlelark]

5. I think the prison is the biggest employer in Estancia.

Likely has something to do with it.

[Thomas Hurt]

6. LOL, in this week's episode of petty ideological theater...

[Turbineguy]

7. Do they hand out free beer in the lobby?

They really should.

[nwliberalkiwi]

8. The Mayor

Look up Mayor Nathan Dial. He's a nut job!!!