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Supervisors OK $43,000 for heightened security

By JAYNE HANSON
Today's News-Herald
Published Monday, March 15, 2010 10:40 PM MST

KINGMAN — Mohave County supervisors voted unanimously Monday in favor of spending $43,092 of the county’s general fund in order to further increase security at the administrative building in Kingman with a new X-ray machine and two 10-door weapons lockers.

“Obviously, it is not something we wanted to do. It is just the times we live in … this is just the beginning. We will have to look at security in all our buildings,” said Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson, R-Dist. 3 in an interview after the meeting.

During the public meeting in Kingman, five individuals took their place at the podium to express their opposition to the county’s recent moves to tighten security.

Those in opposition cited reasons of careless spending during hard economic times; misinterpretation of laws supporting the newly implemented weapon ban at the county building; and radiation concerns constituents would be subject to having to continually pass through the X-ray machine.

Furthermore opposing constituents offered alternative means including re-locating frightened staff from the vicinity of constituents carrying weapons as well as using the honor system to store weapons just as some state agencies do.

Johnson reported about 42 weapons, mostly guns and a few slingshots, were checked into safekeeping at the previous board of supervisors meeting March 1. The previous meeting was the first time the county’s new weapon-ban was fully implemented.

“No where else do you see 42 weapons being brought into board of supervisors meeting or city council meeting for demonstrations,” Johnson said.

The supervisor explained that the fear being expressed by county employees and citizens is a reaction to those demonstrative gun-carrying individuals’ demeanor.

The heightened security is the county’s reaction to a string of incidents beginning in November 2009 after two Golden Valley men were asked to cease distributing political voting records of U.S. Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., during his Town Hall Meeting held in the county auditorium.

Since that time, a handful of scenarios including an unofficial gathering on the county administrative building campus in support of First Amendment rights of freedom of speech as well as an activist group’s persistence in exercising their Second Amendment right to bear arms at a February supervisors’ meeting.

You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasunews.com.

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Comments (12 comment(s))

Mutant wrote on Apr 6, 2010 5:06 PM:

" I love the fact that wisc has the highest dui stats due to the #of breweries in the past. makes you wonder if they enforce any laws in that state; I welcome any thing that makes me safer. "

Wisconsin wrote on Apr 5, 2010 9:18 PM:

" Northbound- If LHCPD cannot afford to police the city, they city should certainly entertain bids from MCSO. If they can provide the same level of service for less money, we should disband our local PD. If not, we keep our cops. This is very simple, we need a service, let's find the most effective use of TAXPAYER DOLLARS, not city dollars, that is our money, not the city's, they took it from us. If the MCSO cannot do it, we look to the state, if they cannot, then let our all helpful friends like McCain and Reid do it on the Federal level. They love to help us out of our money. "

Wisconsin wrote on Apr 5, 2010 9:10 PM:

" Ridiculous- Getoverit usually has some pretty well thought out posts, but that was the best burn I have seen on this site in quite a while! Nice job! I have a brother in law enforcement, and he suffers from "short man syndrome", I would be willing to bet that getoverit suffers from the same aliment! "

Wisconsin wrote on Apr 5, 2010 9:03 PM:

" I recently went in to pay a speeding ticket given to me by the VERY nice Senior Officer Murdoch. I had to walk through a metal detector and empty my pockets. I was laughing as I did so, and told the ARMED elderly gentleman that it made me feel like a criminal. He never cracked a smile, and said "look around, take a number". What a refreshing Welcome to Arizona. I love this place!!! "

northbound wrote on Mar 30, 2010 9:56 AM:

" Hmmmmm wonder if anyone still wants to contract MCSO to patrol LHC? lol "

northbound wrote on Mar 30, 2010 9:55 AM:

" LMAO ivote said it all "trust no one" that means not even you sir. Yes the county should be posting signs saying no weapons allowed, then of course you would not step into the building with your weapon. I am suprised MCSO doesn't have a sign at the glass door of their department. Every other agency I have ever been inside does. Simple fix MCSO post signs on the doors of all your county buildings. "

ivote wrote on Mar 20, 2010 6:02 PM:

" Well, there are some of who know that they do have a right to carry something at all times unless there are signs. You never know what is going to happen. There are people who are NRA member for god's sake and attend these meetings thinking they are respected in the community when we they have Order's pf [rotections against them because they are considered dangerous. We don't know who exactly they are, therefore I am going to carry my weapon unless I am told other wise. The weird eyed guy next to you, could be dangerous even though he presents himself as a law abiding citizen, trust NO ONE... and getoverit, you make no sense.....and the eniroment you supposedly say you are educated and experienced enough to work in (yeah right) should make you aware of these facts about people. "

ridiculous wrote on Mar 17, 2010 5:10 PM:

" getoverit: and that's the problem, most of us who have the misfortune of working with county employees aren't druggies or spousal abusers - In fact, most of us don't have a criminal record of any kind... Of course, that doesn't many county employees from treating the public as if they do... And the alias, "getoverit" truly does sum up the attitude of a county employee...

Bad attitudes, zero empathy, zero problem solving skills, and an antagonist attitude are all cliche for a government worker... We someone could just program a computer to be less efficient, hold little data, and give it a bad attitude nearly every county administrator could be replaced and save us taxpayers a little money... Of course, our county and state government isn't into saving us money; just spending it whether it exists or not and that's just ridiculous... "

sameo sameo wrote on Mar 16, 2010 10:54 PM:

" 43K is just the beginning. Wait until the Sups want full body armor and their own Glocks or Tec9s. What was wrong with hanging a few signs that say NO WEAPONS PERMITTED IN BUILDING EXCEPT SWORN OFFICERS! "

getoverit wrote on Mar 16, 2010 2:32 PM:

" No we are not affraid of the people, true there is a drop in compassion or empathy when dealing with the same druggies and drunks husband/wife beaters day in and day out. Wonder how good at their job you would be. "

ridiculous wrote on Mar 16, 2010 8:39 AM:

" Perhaps the Board of Supervisors should be asking why government employees are fearing the people... Is it their rude demeanor? Their lack of compassion or empathy when working with the public? Perhaps it's their lack of effort at their jobs? I wish the people in charge would spend as much time 'managing' their own people versus always trying to control the people... I for one am very excited about the next election, for once, I do believe the American people may add a lot of faces to our political landscape... "

northbound wrote on Mar 16, 2010 6:57 AM:

" Now why on earth is anyone carring with them a sling shot to attend a bos meeting? I'm sorry but I find this rather dumb. I understand most people are all about the right to bare arms but some of you are taking that a bit far. Why would you even want to attend a bos meeting with a firearm? Just because you have the right to carry one?
Good grieff leave it in the car or at home go to the bos meeting and put your 2 cents in. Again why does Mohave County not have signs posted on all their county buildings "No weapons allowed other then law enforcement personal" Makes sense to me only deputy's should be walking in an out of the Sheriff department wearing their firearms. "

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