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Hawkins County Commissioners OK guns in city parks

Published July 27th, 2009 | 2 Comments

ROGERSVILLE — It was a close vote, but the Hawkins County Commission chose Monday to uphold a state law allowing people with carry permits to bring handguns into parks.

A new law approved recently by the Tennessee General Assemble allows people with gun carry permits to bring guns into public parks. It goes into effect on Sept. 1.

Previously, guns were banned from parks statewide regardless of whether a person had a carry permit.

The new state law also allows cities and counties to maintain the gun ban within their jurisdiction through the passage of a resolution.

Last week, the Church Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 5-2 to uphold the new state law. On Monday, the Hawkins County Commission followed suit, voting 11-9 against a resolution that would ban guns in parks.

Hawkins County has two public parks — Laurel Run Park just outside of Church Hill and St. Clair Park on the western end of the county.

Two Hawkins County citizens spoke out against the gun ban during the County Commission’s discussion of the proposed resolution Monday morning including Randy Ingram, who said he’s had a Tennessee handgun carry permit since 1996. He said permit holders are law-abiding citizens.

“There are over 220,000 permit holders in Tennessee, and these are not vigilantes or cop wannabes,” Ingram said.

Ingram reminded commissioners of the 2007 pit bull attack at Laurel Run Park in which a woman was injured and also noted that Laurel Run Park, located at the base of Bays Mountain, is a “prime habitat” for black bears.

“Professionals have stated that there’s no way to predict a predatory attack, that they’re extremely rare, impossible to predict and difficult to prevent,” Ingram said. “How many of you want to chance facing a family that has lost a loved one because they’ve been prevented from protecting themselves? ...Who wants to face a family and say you’re not permitted to protect yourself even though the state has legally licensed you to do so?”

Commissioner Chris Jones, who teaches handgun carry permit classes through the Mount Carmel Police Department, said most of his “students” are the elderly. Jones added that statistically parks are prime locations for the elderly to be attacked.

“These are not people who go out brandishing their handguns on their sides wanting to be big and macho, and look mean and cruel, or do harm to other people,” Jones said. “These are people who feel more secure because they have a means to protect themselves. Our senior citizens can’t always protect themselves against young, stout men who can overpower them.”

The proposed resolution called for a sign to be posted at the parks announcing that handguns are banned. Jones said the signs will not stop criminals who “plan to do something bad with a handgun.”

Robert Leeper, who also spoke during citizens comments, noted that the proposed resolution would only restrict law-abiding people. In essence, Leeper said, the proposed resolution accomplishes nothing.

Although nine commissioners voted in favor of the resolution, none spoke up during the discussion.

Commissioners who voted in favor of the gun ban in parks were Fred Montgomery, Tim Simpson, Danny Alvis, Hanes Cooper, Linda Kimbro, Bill Henderson, Gorman Lipe, Virgil Mallett and Claude Parrott.

Commissioner Kenneth Long, who is chairman of the commission’s Parks Committee and made the motion for the resolution, abstained.

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"Commissioner Kenneth Long, who is chairman of the commission’s Parks Committee and made the motion for the resolution, abstained."

Just to be clear I am not for any gun control...but

HOW do you not vote for your own resolution...man up MR LONG..

T B | 7/28/2009 - 9:55 AM - ( Comment

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GOOD JOB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WWW.NRA.COM

tony d | 7/28/2009 - 3:47 AM - ( Comment

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