WEIRTON City Council advanced a first reading of an ordinance intended to increase security on municipal property by regulating where firearms, deadly weapons, and pepper spray may be carried. The proposal would take effect only if adopted on a second reading. As drafted, it revises Article 553.01 of the city code to specify locations where possession is prohibited, while also outlining conditions under which lawfully concealed carry is permitted at certain city-owned recreational venues. The core prohibition targets municipal buildings used for city business. Except for law enforcement, first responders, or others whose official duties require possessing a firearm, deadly weapon, or pepper spray, individuals would be barred from carrying those items into municipally owned or operated buildings. The language identifies examplessuch as a courthouse, city hall, convention center, or administrative buildingmeant to capture facilities used for municipal purposes authorized by state law. A building owned by the city but leased to a private entity would not fall under the prohibition, distinguishing civic workplaces from properties under private control. The draft also addresses carry at city recreational facilities. At these locations, individuals may possess firearms, deadly weapons, or pepper spray only when the items are lawfully concealed; open carry at such sites would not be allowed under the proposal. A specific allowance is made for a person holding a valid concealed handgun license, who may bring a lawfully possessed firearm into a municipally owned recreational facility provided the firearm is securely stored out of public view and kept out of others access while on the premises. Covered recreation sites include municipal swimming pools, recreation centers, sports facilities, facilities with after-school programs, and other places where children are regularly present. To place the changes in context, the ordinance would update a long-standing local rule from 1971, commonly known as the License Required provision, which lists various weapons that may not be carried without a state license. The revision reframes the code by focusing on where weapons may be carried on municipal property and by expressly addressing pepper spray and the manner of carry at child-centric recreational venues. In addition, the proposal amends Article 553.06, currently labeled Registration and Bond Required for Air Rifles and BB Guns. Under the new wording, a person may not own, possess, carry, or discharge an air rifle, air pistol, BB gun, or similar device within the city without first registering the item in accordance with state or federal law. Notably, the amendment would remove any requirement for posting an indemnity bond, and the remaining subsections of that section would be eliminated. The ordinance follows recent security acquisitions by the city: two sets of FMD Pro walk-through metal detectors and two ZKT Teco HMD 100 hand-held metal detectors were purchased in August at a cost of $29,957. If the second reading is adopted, the code would formalize building-specific prohibitions, clarify the concealed-carry allowance with secure storage at recreational facilities, and modernize how air rifles and BB guns are treated. Until then, the measure remains a proposal whose final scope will depend on the Councils vote and any amendments introduced before adoption.