GUN BARREL CITY (CBSDFW.COM) – The saying ‘lock and load’ is now probably being uttered more frequently in the East Texas town of Gun Barrel City. The town has passed a resolution that encourages residents to own a firearm.

Late last month the town city council has approved a measure that urges residents to have at least one weapon in their home.

City Manager Gerry Boren explained that when it comes to enforcing the resolution there are exceptions. Individuals with mental disabilities don’t have to own a weapon and Boren said, “If you have in your moral values or you just didn’t believe that you should own a weapon — you don’t have to.”

The resolution that refers to the second amendment says in part, “the city supports every head of household residing in the city limits to maintain a firearm, together with ammunition.”

“We believe that gun control is something that should be given to the voters, not law,” Boren said. “It’s the individual that makes the mistake no the weapon.”

Gun Barrel City Mayor Paul Eaton authored the resolution and said he did it to not only draw business to the East Texas community, but to make a statement. “I hope it will help them to sit up and take notice that Gun Barrel isn’t just a little sleepy town in Texas, that we are alert and we’re watching,” he said.

The population of Gun Barrel City increases from about 7,000 people to 25,000 weekends, thanks to Cedar Creek Lake. When asked if tourists would want to visit a town where everyone might be armed Boren said, “This is Texas man. I think everybody in Texas is gonna be packing.”

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