Judge Rules City Cannot Enforce “No Guns” Policy At Music Festival

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA — After an eventful week and a 7-page lawsuit, a judge has ruled the City of Norman in Oklahoma cannot order the police department to enforce a “no guns” policy at the Norman Music Festival, which begins on April 23.

“They have a right to say, ‘Please do not bring your gun.’ It’s about whether or not the City can enforce that request. It’s a request, it is not a law,” Cohlmia explained Friday afternoon.

After hearing of the lawsuit earlier this week, Norman Music Festival released the following statement:

“The official policy of the Norman Music Alliance for the Norman Music Festival is to request customers not to carry guns on festival grounds.

Norman Music Alliance is certainly a supporter of every amendment to the Constitution.

In accordance with the agreement with the City of Norman, the Norman Music Alliance rents four city blocks in downtown Norman to hold the Norman Music Festival. Under that agreement, NMA qualifies under the business owner exemption law, Okla. Stat. tis. 21 sec 1290.22, that allows business owners to request customers not carry guns into their businesses.

Guns and alcohol do not mix well. The Norman Music Alliance does not want to put conceal carry music fans in danger of a felony charge because they carried in a place where low point beer is served. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 sec. 1272.1.

The board of the Norman Music Alliance feels that most of the fans that attend the Norman Music Festival would appreciate and request a weapon free festival and therefore it is the policy of the Norman Music Festival to ask gun owners and everyone to leave weapons in their vehicles and not bring them onto festival grounds.”

An attorney with the city spoke about the lawsuit, saying that they will be prepared to respond to it as directed by the court.

And the court has said that legally armed citizens may join in the festivities.

As of this article, their website still shows the ‘no weapons’ policy.