ICYMI: Why Were There Metal Detectors at Lexington Town Meeting?

LEXINGTON, MA—Before entering Town Meeting Wednesday, Lexington residents made their way through metal detectors, which came as a shock to some and was displeasing to others.

On Wednesday, Town Meeting adopted a proposed non-binding resolution, which asks the Board of Selectmen to initiate a town-wide discussion about gun violence, in order to yield "fully considered proposals" to present to the Massachusetts State Legislature. The issues of gun control are hotly debated on both sides, and Lexington Police Chief Mark Corr told Patch that police noticed particularly concerning speech on public blogs and forums, which spurred the need for heightened security.

"As is routine process, we tried to get a sense of where the winds were blowing," Corr told Patch."We noticed that some communication was getting heated and nasty, even including hate speech. Clearly veiled threats were out there in the public blogs. With that type of environment, it raised my concerns that individuals might come and be disruptive."

The pro-gun website entitled bearingarms.com reported on the issue, using the headline THE SKITTISH ARE COMING! 241 Years Later, Lexington Battles Gun Grabbers Again. By simply looking at the comments on the article you can get a sense of the concerning speech Corr speaks about, particularly targeted at Robert Rotberg, who proposed the non-binding resolution.

"Rotberg in hell, slowly....,"

"241 years ago he'd have been called a Torie, would have been tarred & feathered and would have been run out of town on a rail."

"Mr. Rotberg, how many people in Lexington Massachusetts have been murdered by high capacity semi automatic weapons? [Expletive]."

While a majority of the commenters on bearingarms.com were anti-gun control, aggressive speech also came from those in favor of gun control, some coming via a story by the Boston Globe.

"Ah another walk through Gun Freak Alley. I've yet to hear/read a cogent reason why anyone outside of a military/combat unit would have need of an automatic or semi-automatic weapon. All I can hear is the same sloganeering about how liberals hate the Bill of Rights, and other sweeping and patently untrue generalizations that are fact only in the mind(s) of the speaker(s)."

"No wonder I failed Geography in the 40's in school-- always said Lexington was in Massachusetts, [expletive]! Now I find out Lexington is In Texas! The man who said he was ashamed of the thought of changing the gun laws in town should move to Arizona. Why does anyone need an automatic weapon--if you want one join The Marine Corps & go to Parris island to learn how to use it--and when you get out go buy a BB Gun. Lexington should be ashamed of themselves--as most of our country should be."

"Next gun rights advocates will demand that they can own and freely deploy howitzers and shoulder-fired Stinger missiles."

Corr said that police officers were clearly visible across the auditorium. He also state that while some residents were upset about the metal detectors, most responded favorably.

"I do have an obligation to ensure that Town Meeting is held with proper decorum," Corr said."It's not a political rally, it's a Town Meeting.

Regardless of concerns, Town Meeting proceeded without incident.

"I thought what took place last night was wonderful," Corr said."People debated passionately, but civilly and responsibly."