Legislative leaders are meeting with the North Dakota Highway Patrol to discuss stepped-up security at the Capitol for the 2017 Legislative session.
It comes in light of the continuing protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Protestors have come to the Capitol on a few occasions.
"Obviously, there are some concerns with all the protests that have been going on, that we are able to do our business in an orderly fashion," said House Majority Leader Al Carlson (R-Fargo). "We're going to deal with and look at various options for dealing with doors, and access, and where people can gather."
Carlson said it's not going to be intrusive.
"Obviously, the First Amendment is to be kept by allcitizens," Carlson said. "But we're going to make sure we can do our work. And if something happens, we have an orderly plan for how to deal with it."
Carlson said the Legislature is not telling people they can't come to the Capitol. He said he loves North Dakota's tradition of openness.
Carlson said he understands this will further stretch the Patrol’s resources.
"They're about as thin as they can get," Carlson said. "But a gathering point will be here."
