ALAMOSA — Nonprofit groups like the National Rifle Association will be allowed to display firearms at fund-raisers where alcohol is also present, if the Alamosa city council approves an ordinance amendment that appeared on the agenda during the city’s January 2nd meeting and is scheduled for public hearing on January 16.

Alamosa City Attorney Erich Schwiesow explained that city ordinances prohibit deadly weapons such as guns on premises where alcohol is sold. The NRA has an annual fund-raiser during which the group auctions off firearms. Currently they cannot hold this function in the city limits because of the ordinance prohibition, so they have had to find a suitable location in the county. This ordinance amendment would open more options for them.

Schwiesow said Alamosa Police Chief Ken Anderson has spoken with representatives from the NRA, and the chief and Schwiesow have discussed the situation. They believed that the ordinance could be changed to allow the display of firearms at a venue such as the NRA fund-raiser as long as the facility has adequate security and the firearms are not loaded or are trigger locked so they could not be easily operable, Schwiesow told the council during its January 2 meeting. Security personnel would have to be on hand.

The ordinance amendment before council would amend the deadly weapon and liquor ordinances to permit events like the NRA fund-raiser where firearms might be auctioned or sold. Schwiesow said the event organizer would have to get a permit from the police chief and meet whatever measures he deems necessary and acceptable for security and safety. He clarified that security at such an event would not necessarily have to consist of law enforcement but would have to be approved by law enforcement.

Chief Anderson agreed that security would have to be approved through his department. He said he has spoken with NRA member Lawrence Martin who assured him events like the group’s fund-raiser would ensure firearms were unloaded or otherwise secured so they could not be fired.

Alamosa Mayor Ty Coleman said his main concern was safety, “making sure we had proper security procedures in place so when an organization wants to put on an event like this in the city the public interest is protected in the highest.”

Councilman Charles Griego said he also spoke with Martin who told him if anyone purchases a weapon at a fund-raiser like the NRA’s, the person would have to go through a background check before the firearm would be released. “You don’t get it and walk off with it,” he said.

Chief Anderson confirmed that is the case. A background check would be required before the firearm would be released.

Councilor Kristina Daniel asked about gun shows. Schwiesow said the ordinance addresses nonprofit organizations so if a nonprofit group put on a gun show, it would be covered under this. “It couldn’t just be John’s Guns coming in and having a party and having an auction,” Schwiesow said.

The council unanimously approved the ordinance amendment on first reading and set it for a public hearing during its 7 p.m. meeting on January 16. Councilor Liz Hensley was absent and excused.