Following discussion and deliberation a week earlier by the Legislative Council’s Ordinance Committee, Chairman Ryan Knapp recommended July 15 that the full council suspend any plans to modify the town’s relatively new Firearms Ordinance.

During the full council meeting this week, First Selectman Pat Llodra explained that concerns were raised to members of the Board of Selectmen after the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, reminding them about an individual who brought a handgun and shot an official at a 2010 Panama City, Fla., school board meeting.

Mr Ryan said after suggested changes to amend the ordinance to restrict carrying firearms, even when they might be permitted, in local public buildings, his committee sought input from legal and law enforcement officials along with doing their own research.

After all was said and done, Mr Knapp said, “we felt we had a good ordinance that addressed public safety,” and that proposed changes were not “universally accepted” under current law. Furthermore, since the ordinance was enacted, Mr Knapp said Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe said his department has never been called on a complaint of someone with a firearm in a public building in town.

The ordinance panel chairman also noted that there are many protections under current law if someone is caught illegally carrying a firearm anywhere in public, and those who are permitted to do so have been thoroughly reviewed by local police prior to being issued any type of carry authorization.

The full council voted unanimously to leave the ordinance intact and as is.