Firearms Ordinance Passed by City of Tyler

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has adopted an ordinance amending Tyler City Code Chapter 4 to update and clarify regulations related to firearms. Among the highlights: prohibition of guns during open governmental meetings. According to a news release, the council generally has very limited authority to regulate firearms and adopted most of the current firearms regulations in 2007. However, due to recent changes to State Law during the 2015 legislative session, it became necessary to update current firearms regulations, according to the release.

The major amendments are summarized below.

· Moves the firearms regulations into a single Article in Tyler City Code Chapter 4.

· Adds new definitions, deletes old definitions and changes terminology to conform to State Law.

· Prohibits both concealed and open carry of lawfully licensed handguns in a room in which a governmental meeting subject to the Open Meetings Law is occurring, including City Council meetings or “more than advisory” City Boards when proper notice or signage required by State law is provided.

· Adds a reference to State law authority of a peace officer to require the temporary storage of a lawfully licensed handgun prior to entry into the non-public, secure area of the Police Department, if a storage locker is provided and if proper signage is provided.