An appeal will be filed after a judge struck down Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s ban on the open carry of guns at polling places on Election Day.
Unless it’s reversed by a higher court, Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray’s decision applies to voting places and absentee counting boards next Tuesday. The only exception would be schools, churches and other places that have banned open carry. Murray said in court that Benson waited too long.
“The secretary just didn’t do this in the right place at the right time. They could have done this months ago,”
“Things happen all the time that we aren’t quite ready for.”
Assistant Attorney General Heather Meingast said the directive was a response to a growing threat of violence and intimidation, and to meet the state’s responsibility to provide “an island of calm” for voters and poll workers.
I’m Rick Pluta