by Nick Delgado

Guam - Due to a lack of quorum, the Parks and Recreation Commission was not able to decide on the issue of whether DPR park patrol officers should carry guns. Commission chairperson Ray Topasna does not agree with the staff packing heat.

He says the Commission will have to put control measures in place to ensure the safety of everyone who frequents the island's parks. "To me, park rangers, if you look at the federal side I don't see them carry guns, if there is any violation they just pick up the phone and call the police department and law enforcement officers, and the more they stay away from arms the better for everybody," he said.

Topasna says the issue will be on the Commission's February 10 agenda. The issue began after park ranger Nick Caudell used his duty weapon to shoot two women and then himself last month.