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| The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, P eTOCs WOnS' _ "Sunday, September 27, 1998 Council muzzles| Fenton Law might not hold up in court. By JASON GREEN RHE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT panned Donald Fenton from speak- ing at council meetings, but a civil City council ; already passed on one read, and then backed off, a gun ordinance that 1 the state Attor- j ney General’s ‘| Office said would probably not jl pass _constitu- tional muster. The ordinance would have banned firearms from all rity government-owned buildings. | The gun proposal was also spired by Fenton. Councilman ‘odd Rastall had brought a handgun for protection to’a council meeting that he believed Fenton would nttend. Fenton awaits sentencing bn having been convicted of hreatening the re of U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D: Johnstown. City Manager <arl Kilduff ini- | 3° — hally said it was #' Rastall’s preroga- ‘ive to arm him- self, Later, Kil- luff supported F Mey he gun ban and ~™ 3aid the ordinance Fenton would help make members of coun- bil feel safer. Now, the mayor has imposed a gag pbrder on Fenton. Citing an ordinance adopted in Dctober 1993 and council’s “house les,” adopted last month, Zucco banned Fenton from voicing his Ppinion at council meetings. | But Larry Frankel, American Civ- j] Liberties Union of Pennsylvania’s pxecutive director, says the 1993 brdinance is too broad to he effective jand legal. The ordinance says: “Any person inaking offensive, insulting, threat- fning, insolent, slanderous or pbscene remarks or who becomes boisterous or who makes threats hgainst any person or against public prder and security while in the coun- pil chambers” shall be barred “from turther audience.” The action can be overturned by a ajority vote of council. A person can be banhed for mak- Ing threats, but not insulting some- | Johnstown Mayor Don Zucco has | | { | (Indicate page, name of fa Ge / ewspager, city and slzte.} = et BIE aber CORAT SOAS TE WH afar] oF: Edition: P. MURTHA - MEMBER OF CONGRESS , WASHINGTON, D.c. - VICTIM; 12/03/1997; CCSCAKA-THREAT Uharacter: . OF Classification: Subrnitting Otfice: FIA PC - wai _— Indexing: 7c pn OCCU % aa FRI ftw: yk est