Citizens argue Ruidoso mayor's ban on guns - video

Dozens of citizens in Ruidoso are arming themselves for a debate against a recent executive order put in place by their mayor. He recently banned guns on village property, which some people say is illegal. The order issued by Mayor Ray Alborn is outlined in signs on Village buildings, banning firearms from the buildings, except for on-duty law enforcement. "Whether it's a good law or not is irrelevant; it's unconstitutional," said Glynis Racine, a member of the Lincoln County Tea Party. That's what many citizens are arguing, partly because of the order's interpretation and where exactly it bans guns. "It's a little ambiguous because of the wording," said Ruidoso resident Harvey T. White. "The Mayor's proclamation says Village buildings, the ordinance however, says all Village property." But Mayor Alborn said the ban is for village buildings only. Village officials said this ordinance was the result of an incident that happened back in July, when a citizen at Village Hall had his gun removed by the Police Chief. Mayor Alborn said he took action as a protective measure. "We all sit right across the front, we are sitting ducks for anything that could happen in there, we have no method of protection at all," Alborn said. Still, citizens are prepared to voice their rights. "I don't have a problem with what he's, a little bit of what he's trying to accomplish here, but I want it to be within the scope and structure of our constitution," White said. "I would like to see the Mayor say he would pull back on this and take it to the council for a vote," said Lincoln County Tea Party member Sally Moore...more

Here's the KRQE-TV news report followed by the order:

Citizens argue mayor's ban on guns: krqe.com