Danville City Commission passed the first reading of an ordinance on Monday that would delete a prohibition against guns in cemeteries in Danville. The ordinance would also revise language concerning the carrying of deadly weapons by citation officers.

City Attorney Stephen Dexter said the ordinance is a request from the Kentucky Concealed Carry Coalition  

There is a state law that restricts cities from restricting the carrying of deadly weapons, he said.

According to Dexter, the revised ordinance would comply with existing state law that prohibits local firearms control ordinances.  

“I was not aware that there was a general prohibition of guns in our cemeteries, which would be unlawful under the statutes, and since that was not enforced — that rule not posted or known, it was just brought to our attention,” Dexter said.  

In 1983, Danville City Commission passed an ordinance prohibiting guns from being carried inside cemeteries, according to city records.

In 2006, there was an ordinance passed by the city commission that restricted citation officers from carrying deadly weapons. In order for a citation officer to carry a deadly weapon, Dexter said they would have to attend a training to be able to carry deadly weapons or make arrests. Both of these ordinances violate KRS 65.870, the statute that bans local firearms controls.

The ordinance also states citation officers do not have the power of peace officers to make arrests and can’t complete the training required of normal officers.

The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled to be on the agenda at the Dec. 12 commission meeting.