LOCAL PARKS WHERE AN OFFICIAL DECISION HAS BEEN MADE

Name: ALL CITY PARKS
City: Danridge
Results of Vote: Carry Allowed. (Vote 4-2)

Danridge considers park ban

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jul/15/gun-ban-in-parks-denied-in-dandridge/


DANDRIDGE - Retired police officer Ronnie Smith of Dandridge has a gun-carry permit and is a pistol-packing believer in the right to carry firearms.

"Most of the time I'm awake I've got mine," said Smith during a Tuesday night Dandridge City Council meeting that included a resolution to prohibit hand guns in public parks in the Jefferson County town.


Smith, 68, was pleased with City Council's 4-2 vote which nixed the resolution that would have prohibited any person authorized to carry a handgun from possessing a handgun while within a public park, natural area, historic park, nature trail, campground, forest, greenway or waterway that is owned or operated by the town of Dandridge.

"Criminals don't go to the police station or Army base, they go to parks, nursing homes and schools," said Smith as he addressed the gathering of 20 people at the meeting.

Dandridge is one of many cities in Tennessee that has been mulling a new state law that comes into effect Sept. 1 that will allow citizens with handgun permits to carry guns in public parks.

The new law has a loophole that allows cities and counties to axe the provision and keep their parks free from guns - after adoption of a resolution by the legislative body.

Tuesday's decision by City Council was of particular note because Dandridge was rocked by a 2006 shooting where three adults were killed in an ongoing dispute between two families at a city ballpark complex at Grace Schrader Park called the "Field of Dreams."

The shooting took place as more than 50 spectators filed out of a youth baseball contest at the complex on U.S. Highway 25W-70. The shooting was not related to any developments during the game.

The other municipal park in Dandridge affected by Tuesday's vote is the Point Resort and Marina.

Smith, along with several members of City Council, deemed the resolution as unenforceable.

"You'd have to have 100 officers down there to pat people down," said Smith. "It's unenforceable and something we don't need. You have an incident that happened three years ago infringing on my rights."

Town Administrator James Hutchins said he doubted any law banning firearms in the park would deter criminals from carrying guns. "No law we make can make people obey the law," said Hutchins.

Like Smith, Dandridge resident Sabrina Large has a gun-carry permit and believes she should be able to carry a handgun in the city's parks. Large, 32, said the Field of Dreams shooting was part of the reason she decided to obtain a gun-carry permit.

"That, and how the world is today," said Large, who frequently attends games and events at Field of Dreams.

"People who have carry permits ought to be able to carry guns for their own safety - that's what we got them for."

Too bad we don't have people with sense here. Maybe I'll move to Dandridge lol

Name: ALL CITY PARKS
City: Martin
Results of Vote: Carry prohibited

Just reported on Channel 7 News.

Thanks to Meigs County Officals.

From a contact in Lexington, received late last night.

I also just saw in our paper that our city parks are closed to the carry option. The aldermen passed it this week.... the mayor and his opponent will be in your audience as well as maybe one or two of the aldermen that are running. The reason for denial was city liability. One more item mentioned last week in passing was by one of the attorneys (who has a carry permit) that thinks the restaurant carry option is insane.

Will get verification and post in the database today.

Trenton City Park - Carry allowed
From one of the Alderman- vote was 3-2 to not opt out.

Name of Park: All CITY parks
City or County: Brentwood
Results of vote: Carry to be prohibited
Entity taking vote: City commissioners (Passed unanimously)

Shelby County, Brentwood, Germantown and Williamson County have all opted to keep guns out of parks

Opt-in on guns makes more sense than opt-out | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

Name of Park: All municipal parks, natural areas, historic parks, nature trails, campgrounds, forests, greenways, waterways and similar public places in Goodlettsville.
City or County: Goodlettsville
Results of vote: Carry to be prohibited
Entity taking vote: City commissioners

City officials say they are producing the required signage and it will be in place by the Sept. 1 effective date of the state’s new handgun law.

Name of Park: City parks, natural area, historic park, nature trail, campground, forest, greenway, waterway or other public place owned or operated by the town.
City or County: Vonore
Results of vote: Possession of a handgun to be prohibited
Entity taking vote: Vonore Mayor and Aldermen approved a resolution


Author: Mia Rhodarmer

The Vonore Mayor and Aldermen approved a resolution Tuesday night that would prohibit people from carrying handguns in city parks.

Mayor Fred Tallent said he was not against handguns, but did not think people needed them in the parks where children could get hurt if a gun went off accidentally. He said if someone brings a gun to a park, it should be left in the car with the car door locked.

The resolution came about after the state General Assembly approved Public Chapter No. 428, which changed the regulations concerning where people could carry guns. Prior to Sept. 1, 2009, carrying a weapon in municipally owned parks, playgrounds, civic centers and other public buildings is a Class A misdemeanor.

The new law approved by the General Assembly made it legal to carry a handgun in a public park. However, the state will allow each county and city to adopt resolutions making it illegal.
The Vonore resolution prohibits anyone from possessing a handgun while in a city park, natural area, historic park, nature trail, campground, forest, greenway, waterway or other public place owned or operated by the town.

Signs will be posted in places where it is illegal to carry a handgun. Violations carry a maximum sentence of 11 months and 29 days and a fine not to exceed $2,500.

Look for more coverage from Tuesday's meeting in the Sunday edition of The Advocat e & Democrat.
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