Radio Host Tries To Bring Gun To School Board Meeting

GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4) - The Weld County School Board held Wednesday night's meeting at a new location after a board member said he planned to bring a gun.

Board member Brett Reese said he's received death threats since his radio station 104.7 Pirate Radio started airing a commentary critical of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Now other board members are criticizing Reese.

The board held the meeting at a school so Reese's gun wouldn't be allowed in. The emergency work session turned emotional with heated exchanges. Some of those exchanges included shouting.

Following the shouting, Reese stood up, walked out and never returned.

"At this point I don't think it will calm things if I go back in," Reese said after leaving the meeting.

Before his exit, the conversation was about safety.

"If Mr. Reese is feeling his safety is compromised then ours is too by being in the same room," School Board President Linda Trimberger said.

Reese initially argued his weapon made the room safer.

"If we had other people who are trained, licensed and armed wouldn't that make you feel more comfortable instead of less comfortable?" Reese asked.

Mark Hintz who was seated next to him said, "No." Hintz's view represented the rest of the board.

The board invited Ken Delay, Executive Director of Colorado's School Board to weigh in.

"With all due respect to Mr. Reese, the obligation of this board is not to say, 'Armed criminals if you come in here, I'm going to shoot you.' We are not going to have a gun battle in the board room," Delay said.

The board looked to adopt a similar policy as Jefferson County Public Schools that prohibits any dangerous weapons on district property.

By the end of the meeting, Reese said if he felt safe enough he would not bring a gun.

The school board will meet again Jan. 20 to adopt a policy banning weapons on all district properties