Pa. delegate to pack heat at Republican convention

YORK, Pa. — A Republican delegate, who recently prompted controversy over a church's Muslim sign, plans to take a Glock 9mm to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland later this month.

Matthew Jansen, who is also a Spring Grove school board member, said he's applying for a license to carry a firearm.

Delegates will not be allowed to have weapons inside the convention, set for July 18 through 21 in the Quicken Loans Arena. But some plan to arm themselves outside of the convention center during the week, Pennsylvania news outlet NewsWorks has reported.

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Trump is expected to be nominated for president. Supporters and protesters have clashed at Trump rallies in the past few months, and protests are anticipated in Cleveland, too.

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Jansen, a Trump supporter, said he's been reading reports about how police are not prepared for the convention. Politico reported Wednesday that tensions are rising over security for the event. While the city has insisted it is ready, some police departments have raised concerns, and plans have been changed.

Jansen said delegates will be attending parties outside of the convention. He added that police cannot be everywhere, and he plans to carry a gun "just in case."

"It's just a precaution," he said, adding that it will be kept in a hotel safe while he's at the convention center.

Jansen has been in the news recently after criticizing a sign posted in front of a Dallastown church, which read "Wishing a blessed Ramadan to our Muslim neighbors." 

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He later apologized and attended a Ramadan meal at the invitation of the Hadee Mosque in Harrisburg.

Megan Sweeney, a spokeswoman for the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, said she doesn't know how many delegates plan to carry firearms, but they have every right to do so.

"These are Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights," she said.

It usually takes three days to a week to get a license to carry, York County Sheriff Richard P. Keuerleber said. Ohio allows people with licences in Pennsylvania to carry in its state.

Joseph Sacco, a retired law enforcement officer, and Marc Scaringi, an owner and partner of a full-service law firm, are the other elected delegates from the Fourth Congressional District. Both said they have not made a decision about whether they will be armed for the convention.

"It's something to think about after what happened in California," Sacco said, adding that the protests have gotten out of hand. Protesters and police clashed in San Diego during a recent Trump rally.

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The alternate delegates — Charles Gerow, a Republican strategist and owner and CEO of Quantum Communications; Betsy Hower, chairwoman of the Adams County Republican Committee; and G. Edwin Matthias, a former security guard — said they do not plan to carry a weapon.

"I'm not," Hower said. "I feel perfectly safe."

Gerow said this is his 11th convention. He was in New York City for the 2004 convention, and protesters showed up there, too.

One of the protesters got in his face, he said. He winked at a police officer. The officer winked back, and Gerow knew he was in good shape.

"I will not be packing anything other than my lunch," Gerow said.

Follow Teresa Boeckel on Twitter: @teresaboeckel