Shelbyville to consider banning guns in parks

The controversial issue of guns in parks will be discussed next Tuesday during a special called study session of Shelbyville City Council.

Citizens are invited to express their opinions on the matter starting at 6 p.m. in the courtroom at Shelbyville police headquarters.

The newly passed Public Chapter No. 428 authorizes citizens in Tennessee with handgun carry permits to be able to lawfully possess a firearm in federal, state or local parks.

However, cities also have the option of excluding their parks by passing a resolution, according to the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service, and many are already doing so.

So far, Memphis, Murfreesboro, Brentwood and Chattanooga as well as Williamson and Shelby counties have voted to exempt their parks.

A proposal to opt out of the measure died in Wartrace Monday night when no one voted on the issue.

Tullahoma is also considering voting to be excluded from the measure and Winchester as well as Manchester has already banned guns in its parks.

The new law goes into effect Sept. 1, and if Shelbyville chooses to enact the resolution, it would have to be done before that date.

The item is on the council's August agenda.

If enacted, the city would have to place signs that prohibit the weapons in its parks. Also, Shelbyville could amend the resolution to prohibit handguns in some parks, while allowing them in others.

The new law allows carry permit holders to possess a handgun "while within or on a public park, natural area, historic park, natural trail, campground, forest, greenway, waterway or other similar place that is owned or operated by the state, a county, a municipality ..."

The possession of weapons was already allowed in recreational areas for individuals in certain circumstances such as law enforcement, reserve officers in training, private police, lands designated as open for hunting, persons attending gun or knife shows, or someone delivering or picking up passengers who do not use the weapon in any manner.