WEIRTON — City Council is taking additional measures to increase security on municipal property, recently approving the first reading of an ordinance which would prohibit the possession of certain weapons.

The ordinance, which must be approved by a second reading to become effective, would amend Article 553.01 of city code.

The current regulation, listed as “License Required,” and enacted in 1971 states “No person without a state license therefor shall carry about his person any revolver or other pistol, dirk, bowie knife, sling shot, razor, billy, metallic or other false knuckles or other dangerous or deadly weapons of like kind or character.”

Under the proposed amendment “except for law enforcement, first responders or others whose employment or office requires possession of a firearm, deadly weapon or pepper spray, no person is permitted to carry a firearm, deadly weapon or pepper spray as described herein into a municipally owned or operated building.”

Those facilities included under the proposed amendment include “any building that is used for the business of the municipality, such as a courthouse, city hall, convention center, administrative building or other similar municipal building use for a municipal purpose permitted by state law,” excluding a building owned by the municipality but leased to a private entity.

In addition, individuals at city-owned recreational facilities may possess such weapons only if lawfully concealed.

The proposal notes “no person may carry or possess a deadly weapon, firearm or pepper spray openly or that is not lawfully concealed. This prohibition does not apply to a person with a valid concealed handgun license from carrying a lawfully possessed firearm into a municipally owned recreational facility and securely storing the said firearm out of view and access to others while at said recreational facility.”

This would cover any municipal swimming pool, recreation center, sports facility, facility with an after-school program or other site where children are regularly present.

In addition, the proposal would amend Article 553.06, “Registration and Bond Required for Air Rifles and BB Guns,” to state “No person shall own, possess, carry or shoot any air rifle, air pistol or gun, commonly known as a BB gun or any gun of similar character or kind in the city, without first having the same registered in accordance with state or federal law.”

It would eliminate any requirement for the individual to post an indemnity bond. The remainder of the regulations under the section would be eliminated.

These proposed changes to the municipal code follow the purchase of two sets of FMD Pro metal detectors and two ZKT Teco HMD 100 hand-held metal detectors, at a cost of $29,957 in August.