No Water Guns Near GOP Convention But Real Guns Are OK — Cops Are Worried

Cleveland, OH — The head of the Cleveland patrol officers union asked Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Sunday to suspend the open-carry law in Cuyahoga County as Republicans gather to nominate Donald Trump as their presidential candidate.

Earlier in the day, on the eve of the Republican National Convention, three police officers were ambushed and shot to death in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Three more officers were wounded. These deaths come less than a week after funerals for five slain Dallas police officers killed by a sniper at a Black Lives Matter rally.

Union President Steve Loomis was working with a lawyer to draft a formal request, reports WJW TV in Cleveland. Loomis also wants patrol officers to work in groups of three instead of solo at intersections downtown.

Loomis is worried the open presence of guns and rifles in close proximity to large protests could be disastrous, putting civilians and police officers at great risk. Texas also allows the open carry of firearms, and in the chaos of the sniper attack officers saw many people with weapons, which added to the confusion.

The union believes the governor could declare a "state of emergency" that would allow open carry of firearms to be suspended in Cleveland.

The governor's office, however, issued a statement Sunday saying Kasich could take no such action:

"Law enforcement is a noble, essential calling and we all grieve that we've again seen attacks on officers. Ohio governors do not have the power to arbitrarily suspend federal and state constitutional rights or state laws as suggested. The bonds between our communities and police must be reset and rebuilt — as we're doing in Ohio — so our communities and officers can both be safe. Everyone has an important role to play in that renewal."

Also on Patch

• Republican National Convention a Crowning Achievement for Donald Trump
• Patch's GOP Convention Live Blog

Under the state constitution, only the legislature can approve such an action.

"I don’t care if it’s constitutional or not at this point," Loomis told CNN.

The convention begins Monday and runs for four days at Quicken Loans Arena. Many protests are planned for areas near the arena and Public Square. No firearms or other weapons, nor anything that could be used as a weapon, are allowed inside the arena or the secure perimeter by order of the U.S. Secret Service.

Water guns, toy guns and tennis balls aren't even allowed inside the convention center.

The theme for Monday's convention activities is "Make America Safe Again."

Trump's spokeswoman, when asked whether people should be armed in the convention area, told reporters the campaign is not worried.

“I am recommending that people follow the law,” Katrina Pierson said Sunday.

The union for sergeants, lieutenants and captains agrees with the patrol officer union's request, reports Cleveland.com. Brian Betley, the union's leader, said he would help lobby to enact the temporary ban on open carry in Cleveland.

"They would declare a state of emergency if something happened, but it's all too late at that point," Betley said

The Dallas attack is weighing on many minds as the convention opens.

City Councilman Brian Kazy, who sits on the city's Safety Committee, told the New York Times last week this is a source of grave concern for those charged with protecting the 50,000 people descending on Cleveland to celebrate and demonstrate this week.

“If you had some mass confusion, even if you had a civilian who was carrying who would attempt to help out, I think the mentality of any law enforcement officer would see an individual with a gun, would see an individual possibly shoot and would react to that,” Kazy told the Times.

Jeff Larson, CEO of the RNC, responded to the issue at a Sunday press conference.

“I feel good about the security plan," Larson said, disagreeing with the union's request. "I think it’s going to be fine.”