Marion police chief's stickers raise Conservative Union's ire

A letter to approximately 600 Marion businesses, along with “no weapons allowed” stickers, is kicking up a fuss with one conservative group.

The letter to businesses in Marion last week was sent by Marion Police Chief Harry Daugherty.  It referred to changes in Iowa code that no longer allow sheriffs to mandate concealing weapons when a permit holder is out in public.  That change in gun permit policy took effect Jan. 1.

The letter from Chief Daugherty urged businesses to ban weapons from private property to “make both (business and police) our jobs easier.”  The chief also included two “no weapons allowed” stickers for businesses to place on the front doors if they agreed with his recommendation.

But that mailing prompted a conservation group called The Iowa Conservative Union to accuse the chief of taking a political position on Iowa's gun permit policy - and using public money to do it.

Group co-chair Jim Conklin said “Mr. Daugherty has chosen to take a political position - intimidate business owners in Marion - and we're going to speak out.”

But Daugherty argued what he authorized was education and not politics.  The chief said unless businesses post a “no weapons” notice in a visible location police can't enforce any trespassing rules against anyone bringing a weapon inside.

And Daugherty also said the $600 cost of the printing and mail wasn't tax dollars.  Rather, the chief used money confiscated in drug raids and other seizures to pay the cost. Those dollars typically go for purchases not on the department's budget.

And Daugherty said he wasn't telling business owners what to do, he was merely laying out the options under the change in law.

“It doesn't really matter to me or the police department if they put stickers up or not.  But I think they need to be informed,” Daugherty said.

Conklin said his group will urge Second Amendment supporters to avoid any Marion business posting the “gun ban” notices sent out by the chief.  At least one business owner said the idea of making some customers unhappy might give her pause and keep her from using the stickers.

But Rich Foens, owner of Smitty's Shoe Repair, said he wasn't that concerned when he posted the sticker from Marion police.

“I don't see anybody so strong on the other side they're going to boycott your business because of it,” Foens said.

Daugherty said he printed up 1,000 gun ban stickers for Marion businesses to use, and has e-mails from about a dozen owners thanking him for the effort.

Opponents vow to keep making the mailing an issue.