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Guns in parks law affects Wartrace, but not Shelbyville or Bell Buckle

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

A new state law which takes effect today allows handguns to be carried in public parks, unless a municipality prohibits it. Shelbyville and Bell Buckle chose to ban guns in parks, while Wartrace has allowed the new law to take effect.

The only park operated by Bedford County outside city limits is a small river access point, and the county has not considered the gun ban issue at its public meetings. The county would presumably come under the state law allowing guns in parks. The closest thing to a park in Normandy is a small lot with a gazebo.

Public Chapter No. 428 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 ...." unless the local government decides to prohibit the carrying of a firearm in these places.

Wartrace had been scheduled to consider a ban July 20, and a number of residents showed up to voice their opposition to such a ban. It wasn't necessary; the proposal died for lack of a motion. At one point Alderman Ed Simpson was going to move against the ban, but Mayor Don Gallagher said that was unnecessary; the ban would die on its own if no one moved to enact it.

Bell Buckle voted Aug. 10 to ban guns in parks. Alderman Frank Reagor spoke in favor of guns in parks, saying that voting for a ban would send the wrong message to potential wrongdoers.

"I feel this is directed at the good guys," said Reagor. "I think it will do more PR against the park than it will do good. I'll vote against it."

But Alderman James Anderson said the ban could prevent a tragic accident.

"I'm a huge proponent of gun rights," said Anderson. "I love guns. But I was thinking about different scenarios, I think it's more likely that an accident be caused by a gun -- I think that's much more likely than by a criminal."

On Aug. 13, Shelbyville City Council unanimously voted to prohibit handguns from city parks.

Councilman Thomas Landers was the only member to make a statement. Although he said he has a gun carry permit himself, he said the fact that the park is used for school functions -- at which guns are not allowed -- complicated the issue and made it necessary for the city to enact the gun ban.

"The reason we're having to vote like this is because of the gray areas a lot of you don't know about," Landers said to the citizens attending the meeting. "There are school children at school functions at the park, and you can not legally have a handgun."

The city will now display signs in prominent locations around the parks, which will say that state law prescribes a maximum penalty of 11 months, 29 days and a fine not to exceed $2,500 for carrying a firearm in the parks.

--Original reporting by Brian Mosely and Mary Reeves contributed to this story

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Quote:The city will now display signs in prominent locations around the parks, which will say that state law prescribes a maximum penalty of 11 months, 29 days and a fine not to exceed $2,500 for carrying a firearm in the parks

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Didn't the state pass the law saying that guns can be carried? Then how can Bedford County post an outdated sign stated that you can be in trouble for it?? Doesn't the state laws out rank the city ones??

All these people worried that "oh no, guns will be in parks". They have been and will probably always be. If you are scared your children will be in a place where guns may be at, then do not go out into public. Simply because you do not know if the person in line in front of you at Wal-Mart is packing or not. Guns are everyone, whether you believe it or not.

-- Posted by -Beth- on Tue, Sep 1, 2009, at 10:55 AM

Oh well, I will feel just as safe no matter if I visit the Wartrace park or the parks in Shelbyville and Bell Buckle. I have enough sense to not be scared of someone with a carry permit coming in. Some people believe that the parks would become like the Wild West which is simply not true.

Oh well, if those people don't want to come to the Wartrace park then that is fine with me because it will be less crowded when I go and plus I don't want to be surrounded by silly paranoid people who believe I such myths and stereotypes. :-)

-- Posted by jaxspike on Tue, Sep 1, 2009, at 11:11 AM

Of course there will be less people at the park jaxspike. Live people that is. However, the corpses will be plentiful. They are going to stack up. Duels and high-noon showdowns are going to be in abundance. They will probably have to schedule them, like birthday parties in the pavilion. We can't have too many shootouts going on at once.

I know I'm going to do a little target shooting today. I hope that it is not too busy over there. I mean the criminals can't carry their weapons at the park in Shelbyville anymore. So they will have to come to Wartrace now as well.

-- Posted by TubeSock on Tue, Sep 1, 2009, at 11:38 AM

Joke all you want but I don't trust permit holders I don't know anymore than criminals I don't know no matter where they are. Strangers are strangers.

-- Posted by stardust on Tue, Sep 1, 2009, at 6:46 PM

That's right. Strangers are strangers. I hope you don't commute on the interstate at all. There are millions of strangers with two tons or more worth of deadly weapons under their butt. You should probably just stay home.

-- Posted by TubeSock on Tue, Sep 1, 2009, at 7:06 PM

I can leave my house and still not trust people. I just don't feel I need a gun to be able to take care of myself.

Permit holders who feel they need a gun anywhere they go are the ones who need to stay home.

-- Posted by stardust on Wed, Sep 2, 2009, at 7:42 AM

WOW . . . how do you make it through Wal-Mart with all those "strangers" surrounding you and shopping and possibly carrying a gun? How about Kroger or McDonalds or all the other businesses where individuals with carry permits are allowed to carry their guns? I mean, you could get shot just driving down North Main Street at any moment . . . how do you make it out your house with that amount of paranoia? LOL!

-- Posted by jaxspike on Wed, Sep 2, 2009, at 7:44 AM

I have no problem taking care of myself w/o my pistol. As a matter of fact, I'm always up for a good fight. But oddly enough, the average mugger or rapist isn't reliable to use only hands, feet, elbows, and knees.

-- Posted by TubeSock on Wed, Sep 2, 2009, at 8:26 AM

I still think it's funny that permit holders are so scared to leave home without their guns and are asking me how I function without one.

-- Posted by stardust on Wed, Sep 2, 2009, at 9:19 AM

still think it's funny that permit holders are so scared to leave home without their guns and are asking me how I function without one.

-- Posted by stardust on Wed, Sep 2, 2009, at 9:19 AM

I am not "scared" to leave my home without my gun. I dont leave home without a spare tire for my truck, I just like to be prepared. I dont see what your problem is with permit holders, how many have shot at you? Better yet in all the gun crimes in all the land how many are perpetrated by permit holders? Research that number (which will be very very small) and compare it to the lives that are saved by the same group of people.

You do realize that it is a constitutional right to "keep and bear arms"?

-- Posted by greasemonkey on Wed, Sep 2, 2009, at 9:57 AM

http://nopers.com/video/203/right_to_bea...

-- Posted by Evil Monkey on Wed, Sep 2, 2009, at 10:58 AM

I have several guns, I just don't feel the need to carry them to the park.

-- Posted by stardust on Wed, Sep 2, 2009, at 11:57 AM

I have recently begun reading the responses on this site to stories and blogs. The thing that really keeps bothering me about all of the topics is there seems to be NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONSTITUTION. There seems to be no understanding of the kind of land that our forefathers LEFT. America was founded on ideals that came after being OPPRESSED by A TYRANNICAL ENTITY! The kind of tyranny that says who can and cannot have a gun.

I want my Constitutional rights upheld!

-- Posted by usaneill on Wed, Sep 2, 2009, at 12:09 PM

Cute EM, I Like! ; )

-- Posted by Momof3&3step&1gran on Wed, Sep 2, 2009, at 7:06 PM

As a matter of fact, I don't think that it's necessary to carry in the park either. But the right to do so and actually doing it are two different things.

I still think it's funny that people like you think that a "No Firearms Allowed" sign is going to protect them.

-- Posted by TubeSock on Wed, Sep 2, 2009, at 7:33 PM

I don't think anything will protect me from people who carry guns in parks except my own vigilance.

I will be amused when the day comes that 2 permit holders draw on each other because they feel threatened and because they both think they have been trained and have 'permission' to do so. Which one will claim that they have more rights than the other?

You can carry a gun anywhere else. The park is not the place.

I actually am more concerned now because I do wonder how many of you are out there thinking you are protecting me.

Just because you have a constitutional right doesn't mean you have to use it 24/7.

Your right shouldn't infringe on another person's rights. I don't always use my right to free speech and I don't shove my religion down other people's throats. I don't have to allow soldiers in my home but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't.

Rights mean using good judgement not just utilizing them because they are there.

-- Posted by stardust on Wed, Sep 2, 2009, at 8:46 PM

Stardust,

You just don't get it. I do not carry my weapon to protect you; I carry it to protect me and my family. It is my RIGHT!

When you have a one or more drunk or stoned people open your car door while you are in the store and get in with your family maybe you will understand. And yes that did happen to me once in Shelbyville. If something like this happens to you and people are just standing there watching and not helping, you may wish you could take some of your words back.

I am curious, will you be just as amused when people driving around Shoma Drive or Blue Ribbon Circle shooting at each other kill a couple of kids on the street? Or will it only be funny if they have carry permits? What you choose for amusement is your own business but I would never think pulling a gun on some one would be funny.

-- Posted by PoorMe on Thu, Sep 3, 2009, at 8:17 AM

Em,

I just got a chance to watch the video....thats friggin hilarious. I love that show.

-- Posted by greasemonkey on Thu, Sep 3, 2009, at 7:14 PM