Common Sense and Civil Rights Prevail in Arlington

[Pat McGarrity]

Congrats to Arlington for their leaders choosing safety and upholding civil rights in their parks!


http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... on-action/


Two months after the statewide guns-in-parks law took effect, Arlington Mayor Russell Wiseman says the town's Board of Mayor and Aldermen won't consider opting out of the legislation that allows handgun-carry permit holders to pack their guns in parks.

"We are taking no action," Wiseman said Thursday.

With no move by the local legislative body to opt out, permit holders can continue carrying their handguns in Arlington's six parks.

That leaves Lakeland as the only local government in Shelby County that hasn't dealt with the guns-in-parks law through action or inaction.

Lakeland Mayor Scott Carmichael said Thursday that the city's Board of Commissioners is still going to consider the issue, probably right after the new year begins.

Lakeland, which has a half-dozen parks, wanted to wait until challenges to the state law were worked out, Carmichael said.

"We wanted to make sure it was a clean law," he said.

Tennessee's local governments apparently can take all the time they want before making a decision, or not.

State Rep. Frank Nicely, R-Strawberry Plains, said the bill he sponsored into law lets local governments opt out of allowing guns in parks at any time.

"I don't know why any of them would want to, though," Nicely said. "Nobody has explained to me why a person with a permit can walk armed down the street but can't into a park."

In July, three local governments in Shelby County voted to keep banning firearms in their parks. The Memphis City Council voted 11-2, the Shelby County Commission 10-3, and Germantown's Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously decided to just say no.

Collierville's Board of Mayor and Aldermen in August voted 3-2 to allow guns in parks.

Millington's Board of Mayor and Aldermen in August and Bartlett's board last month allowed the state law to permit guns in parks after their boards didn't muster the necessary two members to put the issue to a vote.

Statewide, about 70 counties and cities have voted to ban guns in parks, according to The Associated Press, a minority of the 95 counties and about 350 incorporated municipalities.

-- Kevin McKenzie: 529-2348

Staff Reporter Richard Locker contributed to this article.