Selectmen Begrudgingly Retreat On Guns
The Tamworth Selectmen voted 2-1 to get rid of their offending employee policy. Tom Abugelis stated that he supports the principle of the policy, but preferred the town not get wrapped up in legal problems sorting this issue out. Willie Farnum skewed the issue from the rights of the dozens of town employees to have the means to defend themselves whilst on town property to some odd perception that town firefighters were going to be operating in a quasi-police role on fire calls. John Roberts reversed course from his previous outlook on the issue, and stated that he “doesn’t think the Board of Selectmen are in a position to decide who does and who doesn’t carry a firearm. I don’t think we can be, and I don’t want to be.” – hat’s off to John for that.
With the stubbornness of an ornery donkey in heat, Selectman Willie Farnum let out one last political gasp after the Selectmen voted to remove the offending policy, declaring that he’d like to formally have added to the town policy that the Selectmen “respectfully request” that town employees not possess firearms at work. Update: Abugelis and Roberts steer clear of more firearms problems, turning down Farnum’s suggestion for a “respectful request” from the Selectmen at their subsequent meeting.
Selectman Tom Abugelis wrapped up the discussion: “I think this is an example of a town operating with openness and responsibility out of care and concern…I’m very proud to work with my two fellow Selectmen because of the degree of thinking and thought and care that they put into every issue. To me, it’s an example of really effective local leadership.” Christ, if this Selectboard in general, and their smarmy response to the firearms issue in particular, is a fine example of “really effective local leadership”, Tamworth is in some real trouble.