Traversing Erie Canal, considering guns in Legislative Hall

We’re boating westward on the Erie Canal, passing and stopping occasionally in the towns and cities connecting the farmland of upstate New York: Waterford, Schenectady, Amsterdam, Rome, Utica, Little Falls. Sylvan Beach and Brewerton are on either end of 20-mile long Oneida Lake which has been incorporated into New York’s impressive canal system. 

Some towns are doing well, some are holding on, others are deteriorating as they transition from manufacturing to tourism and who knows what else.  Corona is whammying them just as elsewhere across the world.

I’m reflecting on the human condition. Cruising at eight or nine, there’s lots of time to contemplate the progress of civilization, especially in terms of people and their interaction with nature, and with each other.

I said last week I would be writing about guns and halos in the weeks ahead. Guns can represent violent interaction. Halos, at the opposite end of the spectrum, represent enlightened interaction.

Guns are on my mind now because of conversations I had in the past couple of months with Speaker of Delaware’s House of Representatives Pete Schwartzkopf - 14th district representative - and 20th District Representative Steve Smyk. Both are retired Delaware State Police officers. 

At a rally in the spring at Legislative Hall in Dover, citizens pushed for an easing of restrictions related to the coronavirus shutdown of our economy.  The Cape Gazette published photographs by Deny Howeth of protesters and signs.  One of the photographs showed a group of men carrying assault rifles. Not police officers.

“They’ve shown up before at rallies, particularly related to gun legislation,” said Schwartzkopf. “I don’t like it but supposedly - because of Second Amendment rights - we can’t do anything about it.  They say they’re not there to intimidate but they certainly do intimidate people. Still,” said Schwartzkopf, referencing a rally in Michigan’s capital where armed protesters blocked doorways inside, “you should be able to ban guns from the workplace.”

He went on to talk about a few Delaware legislators, with concealed deadly weapon permits, who carry loaded guns into Legislative Hall. Members of the public, with or without permits, can’t bring guns there.  They all have to pass through metal detectors at the front entrance.  Legislators don’t have to do the same.  They can enter through side doors. 

“I’ve asked them to leave their guns in their cars but they bring them in anyway.  And I’ve asked them regularly to not bring them onto the floor of the House when we’re in session.  If they bring them in, they know I will recess until the guns have been taken out.  It’s an unwritten rule and they comply. We do things that rile people and sometimes people feel threatened.  But you’re in a building protected by the Capitol Police.  I’m not sure why anyone would feel the need to have a gun.”

When I mentioned that conversation with Smyk during an interview a month or so later, he said he is one of the lawmakers who occasionally carries a gun into Legislative Hall.  “I have a federal permit which, as an officer who left the force in good standing, allows me to carry.  It’s considered a force multiplier for terrorism. I have to be trained every year, meet certain qualifications.  My skill level is much higher than those with simple concealed deadly weapon permits.  It’s a huge responsibility.  But as for Legislative Hall, I’ve been encouraged by Capital Police there to carry.  They’ve asked me to because of limited staffing.  In Wilmington a few years back, a man ran right past security guards at a courthouse, found two victims and killed them. It happens.”

Smyk said you never know who, when or why someone will threaten a legislator. “Most people who want to fight me are pro-marijuana legislation.”  He laughed. “They’re only nice when they’re high.”