North Liberty voting on gun ban Tuesday night

North Liberty may be the next Johnson County community to ban guns on its property.

The City Council Tuesday night will consider a resolution banning firearms and other dangerous weapons from land the city owns, leases or otherwise occupies. North Liberty is currently renting space for its City Hall.

If approved, exceptions would be granted to peace officers, members of the military, people in the service of the United States with a proper permit to carry a firearm or weapon, correctional officers and people who receive written permission from the police chief.

The city of Iowa City and Johnson County passed similar resolutions last week. Guns also are banned from the Iowa City Public Library.

Debates have been occurring across Iowa since changes in the state's gun law that took effect Jan. 1 restricted a sheriff's discretion to deny gun permit applications and require guns to be concealed.

Local governments have landed on both side of the issue. Some like Iowa City and Johnson County have enacted restrictions, whereas Washington County and the cities of Marion and Kalona backed away from proposed gun bans in the face of public opposition.

The North Liberty City Council meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 25 W. Cherry St.