Update: Officials say man who brought gun into Grand Rapids school voting precinct may have handled himself correctly

GRAND RAPIDS — Nicholas Looman says he carries a gun on a regular basis to exercise his rights as a licensed firearms holder.

He’s carried a pistol while grocery shopping, attending public events and while going about other parts of his daily routine. Looman believes he’s well-versed in the state’s right-to-carry laws.

So when he was stopped outside a voting precinct after casting his ballot in Tuesday’s primary election, Looman, 25, said he was frustrated, more than anything, with what he believes is a lack of understanding over what the laws are.

“I don’t want to be a problem. I don’t want to win a lawsuit, but I think there needs to be justice,” said Looman on Tuesday evening, hours after he was told to leave Aberdeen Elementary following a discussion with police. “I would like a public apology.”

Looman said he had already cast his ballot at the Grand Rapids elementary school and was headed out the door Tuesday when a school staff member stopped him and called his pistol into question. The weapon was holstered, in clear view, at his waist, Looman said.

State law prohibits carrying a concealed weapon on school property, Looman said, but his weapon was clearly visible. And he believes he had every right to bring it along to vote.

Looman said Grand Rapids Public Schools staff banned him from school property until further notice.

District Spokesman John Helmholdt said the state school code states that weapons of any kind are not allowed on school property.

He was told Looman came into the school through an entry designated for voters, then after voting, walked into the main portion of the school with a weapon clearly visible. He was stopped at that point by a school worker.

Helmholdt said visitors should know not to bring a weapon into a school.

“Our number one issue is school safety,” he said. “Common sense tells you don’t bring a gun into a school.”

But Looman says he believes his rights as a voter were violated on Tuesday when school staff and authorities confronted him at a polling location. He’s taking a stand in hopes authorities will take a closer look at what the laws are.

“It became a civil liberties infraction because it was a voting day, and that’s disappointing,” he said. “I just wanted to go home to have lunch.”