Nelson Responds to Lawsuit

The City of Nelson plans to defend its controversial gun law, it said tonight during its June council meeting.On May sixteenth the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence filed a suit against the city, saying the Nelson law is unconstitutional. Nelson passed its Family and Home protection ordinance on April first, requiring all heads of households to own a firearm and corresponding ammunition.

However, the ordinance also exempts anyone who opposes gun ownership, felons, and those mentally or physically unable to handle a firearm. In a conversation with FYN this week, City Attorney Jeff Rushbridge said the city has been served and plans to file an answer to the suit denying the claims of the Brady Center. The answer is due in the next two weeks, he said. Notably, Nelson Resident Lamar Kellet, who opposed the ordinance and was instrumental in filing the suit, was not in attendance Monday night.