Fairbanks, AK - The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly will consider an ordinance during tonight’s regular meeting that would allow Borough employees to carry firearms to work. Assemblyman Lance Roberts is sponsoring the ordinance. “Right now, the state of Alaska doesn’t allow the Borough to regulate how people carry, own or sell a lot transport or a lot of other things dealing with firearms,” says Roberts.
Borough policy currently prohibits employees from carrying weapons in the workplace. But Roberts says that’s a safety issue and a violation of Second Amendment Rights. “It’s always safer when you have a more armed populus," says Roberts. "I like it when people come armed to the Assembly, because I know it’s the safest place in the Borough. But also, the purpose of government is to protect your rights.”
Roberts would not say if he carried a weapon himself. “I don’t carry openly and it defeats the purpose if you tell people you are carrying a concealed weapon.”
Roberts’ ordinance will not allow Borough employees to carry weapons on private property. Assemblyman Michael Dukes is introducing a supplement that would require employees who wish to carry firearms to submit a certificate of competence to show that they have successful completed a handgun course approved by either the Borough or the State. The Assembly will hear public testimony and vote on the ordinance tonight.