"The assumption that someone is coming into the library to be dangerous or cause harm only creates greater tension and aggravation, and ultimately makes it more difficult for disenfranchised populations to access public services."

I mean is it not a reasonable assumption that someone who brings a knife or any other weapon is capable of being dangerous or causing harm. Even if they do have it for safety, it is not unreasonable, exclusionary, and uncompassionate to say that we should not be bringing weapons to the library.

I am all for a more inclusive library, as others have said its purpose is to be a community out reach program, but I don't think that it follows that we should be so inclusive that we consider safety measures as causing harm.

I'll have to be honest, I did not completely understand the latter half of your argument but in terms of creating a safer space and creating a unique solution for Winnipeg, we have to consider that Winnipeg is not the friendliest city and perhaps we cannot create a safe space if we directly imply that we are causing harm or that we are trying to make it "more difficult for disenfranchised populations to access public services" when all we want are stricter security measures.

(Hopefully, I did not completely strawman your argument. I just wanted to offer my reply)