Gun bans aimed for some Nashville, Memphis parks despite law
City officials in Nashville and a massive event organizer in Memphis say they plan to still prohibit guns at certain parks, despite a new state law that nixes any bans on people with permits taking guns to public parks.
The mayors of both cities — along with the mayors ofKnoxville and Chattanooga — opposed the move by state lawmakers to force local governments to allow people with permits to take guns into their parks.
The law still passed. Gov. Bill Haslam initially opposed the bill, but recently signed a changed version while asking cities and counties to monitor what the law means for their parks.
Now, as Tennessee cities prepare for a summer season full of concerts, sporting events and festivals, city and private officials continue to grapple with how they will enforce or follow the controversial new law.
Nashville and Memphis officials need to reexamine Tennessee’s government hierarchy. The state law makes it clear as day: All bans against permit-holding gun owners to enter parks with their firearm has become null and void. Simple, right? Not exactly.
Some city officials have chosen to disregard this state law and, as a result, have effectively trampled on the rights of Tennesseans to holster a legal carry.
Responsible concealed and open-carry permit holders will take the blunt of these unjustifiable city rulings; it’s the criminals who will benefit from this ordinance. The hoodlums will bring their firearms into parks regardless of what officials say. The law-abiders, on the other hand, will leave their guns out of Tennessee parks and venues-ultimately giving criminals the upper hand.
State law should be respected, along with our Constitution’s Second Amendment.
