The Board of Selectmen banned Robert Schuler from town buildings after he expressed his frustration with the slow budget process by saying at a meeting he wanted to "pull my gun out and start shooting or something."
SHIRLEY — The American Civil Liberties Union has filed suit against the town of Shirley on behalf of a town official who was banned from all publicly owned buildings after making a comment about guns.
The Board of Selectmen banned Robert Schuler from town buildings in May 2011 after he expressed his frustration with the slow budget process by saying at a meeting he wanted to "pull my gun out and start shooting or something."
Schuler, who's on the Finance Committee and Sewer Commission, has participated in meetings for both boards remotely.
The ACLU says Schuler's comment neither explains nor justifies the ban and the U.S. Constitution "protects both popular and unpopular speech, including hyperbole."
Schuler has apologized.
Select board members told The Sun of Lowell they could not comment on pending litigation.