(a) 
Prohibited acts.
(1) 
The governing body of the city hereby forbids the intentional and with reckless knowledge carrying or using any concealed firearm contrary to section 46.02 of the Penal Code of the state as set forth in Volume 4 of the Penal Code of Vernon’s Texas Codes Annotated.
(2) 
Any person within the city limits who intentionally, knowingly or recklessly carries on or about his person and/or discharges same on or across any public square, street or alley or within one hundred (100) yards of any business house of the city commits an offense and is subject to a penalty of a fine or imprisonment for such illegal act for violating this section which is in keeping with section 46.02 of the Penal Code of the state.
(b) 
Exceptions.
Subsection (a) shall not apply to any duly elected or appointed officer as provided for in section 46.03 of the Penal Code of the state and other licensed carriers.
(Ordinance 108 adopted 3/6/79; 1986 Code, secs. 9.10–9.11; Ordinance adopting 2017 Code)
(a) 
Findings.
The city council finds and determines that the carrying of dangerous weapons, including concealed handguns, to meetings of official boards, commissions, and committees, including city council meetings and meetings involving city officials generally, is counter to the basic principles of open government and open debate and constitutes a threat to the health, safety and welfare of city officials, city employees, and citizens in general; and determines that the carrying of dangerous weapons, including concealed weapons, on city-owned premises by persons not certified as peace officers subjects city employees employed on such premises and citizens frequenting such premises to undue risk of danger and harm; and finds and determines that the carrying of dangerous weapons, including concealed handguns, in association with official city functions, city projects, and activities of city officers and employees constitutes an undue risk of danger and harm to city officers, employees, and citizens in general; and desires to implement all powers and authority still reserved unto the city by state law to prohibit, control or regulate dangerous firearms, including concealed handguns, on city premises and at official meetings of governmental entities.
(b) 
Definitions.
City premises
means all real property owned or leased by the city and used by the city for its administrative offices and service facilities, including, but not limited to, the public works offices, police and fire stations, and city hall, and the meeting place for the city council.
Concealed handgun
means a handgun, the presence of which is not openly discernable to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person.
Dangerous weapon
means any weapon as defined under section 46.01 of the Texas Penal Code.
Governmental entity
means:
(1) 
The city council, meeting in numbers constituting a quorum;
(2) 
Any board, commission, or committee duly constituted and authorized or officially sanctioned by the city;
(3) 
Any officer, representative, or employee of the city, while acting in an official capacity.
Meeting of a governmental entity
means:
(1) 
Any meeting involving a governmental entity as defined herein for which advance notice has been posted in accordance with the state open meetings law;
(2) 
Any meeting involving a governmental entity as defined herein, the purpose of which is to allow individuals to meet with the governmental entity to discuss matters within the official authority or responsibility of the governmental entity.
(c) 
Prohibited acts.
(1) 
It shall be unlawful to carry a dangerous weapon, including a concealed handgun, at any meeting of a governmental entity within the city limits. This section shall not apply to persons who are certified as peace officers in accordance with state law or to elected officials and the city manager, provided those persons have a concealed handgun license issued by the state.
(2) 
Entry of persons into city premises while carrying dangerous weapons, including concealed handguns, is hereby declared an act of criminal trespass and is prohibited. This section shall not apply to persons who are certified as peace officers in accordance with state law or to elected officials and the city manager, provided those persons have a concealed handgun license issued by the state.
(d) 
Signage.
(1) 
The city manager, or the city manager’s designee, is hereby authorized and directed to place in appropriate conspicuous places on city premises signage containing the following statement:
NOTICE
ENTRY ONTO THESE PREMISES BY PERSONS CARRYING DANGEROUS WEAPONS, INCLUDING CONCEALED HANDGUNS, IS AN ACT OF CRIMINAL TRESPASS AND IS PROHIBITED. ENTRY ON OR REMAINING ON THESE PREMISES BY A CONCEALED HANDGUN LICENSE HOLDER WITH A CONCEALED HANDGUN IS PROHIBITED.
(2) 
The sign posted on city premises shall be in English and Spanish and must be in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height.
(e) 
Enforcement.
(1) 
Entry into city premises, properly marked as provided in subsection (d) of this section, by persons carrying dangerous weapons, including concealed handguns, shall constitute a breach of the public peace. Persons who break the peace under this section or trespass upon city premises while carrying a dangerous weapon, including a concealed handgun, shall be subject to immediate removal from such premises. This section shall not apply to persons who are certified as peace officers in accordance with state law.
(2) 
All employees of the city are hereby prohibited from carrying dangerous weapons, including concealed handguns, while on the job or in the performance of their official duties. Violation of this section shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action, including immediate termination. This section shall not apply to those employees who in the performance of their official duties are peace officers certified in accordance with state law.
(3) 
Officers and employees of the city are exempted from and are not obligated to attend or participate in any city-related business in which a participant in any such business is carrying a dangerous weapon, including a concealed handgun, and is not a peace officer certified in accordance with state law.
(f) 
Penalty.
A violation of subsection (c)(1) of this section shall constitute a class C misdemeanor punishable upon conviction thereof by a fine in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(Ordinance 193 adopted 1/9/96; 1986 Code, secs. 9.12–9.17; Ordinance 247-07 adopted 6/12/07; Ordinance adopting 2017 Code)