Stronger enforcement and penalties for gun violations in Lawrence may be a more fair and direct way to deal with people who choose to carry illegal guns near local bars.

At Tuesday’s Lawrence City Commission meeting, Mayor Mike Amyx floated the idea of imposing mandatory jail sentences for violations of the city’s ordinance against anyone without a concealed-carry permit bringing a gun within 200 feet of a local drinking establishment. His suggestion was to impose a mandatory 30-day sentence for first offenders, 90 days for a second offense and at least 180 days for people convicted of two or more offenses.

The tough sentences not only would send the message that the city means business, but places the burden directly on the offenders, rather than local business owners. That would be in contrast to another strategy being considered by commissioners: a special license for entertainment venues that could be revoked if a business is found to be creating a nuisance in the city.

Whether or not an establishment is a nuisance would require a somewhat subjective judgment as opposed to determining whether someone is carrying a weapon for which he or she is not properly licensed. Curbing the presence of weapons downtown or anywhere else is a law enforcement issue best handled by law enforcement officers. If city commissioners want to make bar owners more responsible for the conduct of their patrons, they could force bars to step up their security measures. That might include a requirement, for instance, to install metal detectors at their establishments.

It’s a valid point that people willing to carry illegal weapons on their person or in their cars aren’t going to be particularly impressed by any city ordinance against that action. However, vigorous enforcement, coupled with mandatory jail sentences, are likely to get their attention. It wouldn’t take long for word to get around – even to those from other cities – that Lawrence is getting serious about gun violations.

Declaring any local club a “nuisance” and forcing it to close may eliminate a problem, or it might simply move it down the block. Bar owners have a responsibility to maintain safety and control of their establishments, but they shouldn’t be expected to take the place of law enforcement officers.

There’s already a law on the books that could go a long way toward taking care of this problem if it is vigorously enforced and coupled with penalties strong enough to get people’s attention. Word will get around, and if it makes Lawrence a less attractive place for a certain gun-toting element, so much the better.