Faced with a wave of opposition from residents, the Select Board Tuesday withdrew its earlier support for Police Chief Dana Flynn’s call to opt out of a provision in a state law that prohibits firearms in town-owned or managed buildings, parks, recreational facilities, and other public places.
At Tuesday evening’s meeting, Select Board Vice Chair Kevin Canty said that “about 90 percent” of the emails and other communications he’s received since the board’s Feb. 25 vote have favored adhering to the law, which took effect in October.
The firearms issue is Article 12 on the agenda at Saturday’s Special Town Meeting at Plymouth North High School. Canty, along with board member David Golden, in February voted against recommending the town opt out of the provision, while the other three members supported Flynn’s call, which was also backed by Town Manager Derek Brindisi. The legislation was backed by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, among other groups.
“Personally, I think we have an odd cultural fascination with guns that I will never fully understand,” Canty said Tuesday.
In the face of public outcry, John Mahoney and Charlie Bletzer reversed their earlier stand Tuesday night. The board voted 4-1 to recommend that Town Meeting take no action on the proposed bylaw. Select Board Chair Dick Quintal cast the dissenting vote.
“Obviously, we’ve heard from dozens, if not hundreds of our constituents,” Mahoney said. He added that if the town decides to continue complying with the state ban on firearms in municipal buildings and lands, it will have to consider how to enforce it, which could be costly.
Mahoney and Bletzer are running for re-election in the May 17 town election.
Quintal, as he has done previously, said he would defer to Flynn when it comes to public safety measures. The chief contends that banning firearms from Town Hall and other places makes them “soft targets” for attackers. He and Brindisi believe the public would be safer if town employees and others were allowed to be armed.
“I agree with the chief and I agree with the Second Amendment,” Quintal said.
But even though the Select Board and the Advisory and Finance Committee oppose Article 12, Town Meeting is still likely to debate it on Saturday. Betty Cavacco, a Town Meeting member from precinct 6, told the Select Board Tuesday that she has already submitted a motion to take up the bylaw.
“I do believe in our Second Amendment rights,” Cavacco said.
The rule is part of sweeping legislation called “An Act Modernizing Firearms Laws” that was signed by Governor Maura Healey last July. It includes a clause that allows communities to opt out of the ban on guns in municipal buildings and other public places.
Firearms at schools and courthouses were already banned before the law passed.
After the vote, Bletzer proposed adding a non-binding question on the gun issue to the May 17 town election ballot. He argued that Town Meeting should hold off on taking up the issue until residents have voted and then ratify that decision at the October Town Meeting.
“It’s a complicated issue, people’s right versus public safety,” Bletzer said. “We need to hear from the residents.”
Canty pushed back, pointing out that more than one Town Meeting member – including Cavacco – has expressed interest in taking up the bylaw Saturday.
“I would like to see Town Meeting review this now that it is before them,” Canty said. Bletzer’s proposal, he said, was an attempt to circumvent Town Meeting.
Matt Tavares, Town Meeting member and chair of its committee of precinct chairs, told Bletzer a referendum question on the ballot in May would create more confusion.
Mark Pulsinelli, Town Meeting member from precinct 3, told the board, “We kind of are the referendum.”
Town Meeting members reflect the pulse of their neighborhoods, he said. “I just don’t see how a referendum is any more helpful than the Town Meeting process,” Pulsinelli said.
Mahoney said it would be best to wait to see what Town Meeting does before putting the question on the May ballot. There would still be time to do so next week.
“If this gets on the ballot, the only people who win are the people who make the lawn signs,” he said, suggesting that a popular vote is likely to come down to which side is best funded. “This will just further divide the community, and I don’t see a benefit for putting it out there.”
In the end, however, Mahoney and Canty lost the argument. Bletzer’s motion to put the issue on the May 17 ballot passed by a vote of 3-to-2.
Fred Thys can be reached at fred@plymouthindependent.org.