Lenoir City adopts gun ordinance
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 5:03 pmhttp://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?S=9534064
LENOIR CITY (WATE) -- In the coming days, gun owners, whether they have a permit or not, will no longer be allowed to carry guns inside any Lenoir City owned building.
"These are times in which it could be dangerous. We've seen incidents all over the country. I think it was a good, prudent move by city council to do this," says city administrator Dale Hurst.
Violating the ban is a criminal act and violators can be fined up to $50. To enforce the ordinance, signs are expected to be clearly posted at the entrances of all city buildings.
But the new ordinance brings to light a current state law that allows local business owners to prohibit people from bringing guns inside stores.
The law states, "An individual, corporation, business entity or local, state,or federal government entity or agent thereof is authorized to prohibit the possession of weapons..."
The law gives hardware store owner Jo Ann Jenkins the right to ban guns in her store if she chooses.
"We've got certain rights and carrying a gun is one of them," Jenkins says.
She believes few places will actually use the law, especially if they've never had a problem.
"I doubt I've ever had more than 10 people come in carrying a gun except police officials so I have never had any problems," Jenkins says.
Lenoir City officials say they've never had any problems with citizens bringing guns inside city buildings.
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But what about:
39-17-1314. Local regulation of firearms and ammunition preempted by state regulation — Actions against firearms or ammunition manufacturers, trade associations or dealers. —
(a) No city, county, or metropolitan government shall occupy any part of the field of regulation of the transfer, ownership, possession or transportation of firearms, ammunition or components of firearms or combinations thereof; provided, that the provisions of this section shall be prospective only and shall not affect the validity of any ordinance or resolution lawfully enacted before April 8, 1986.
LENOIR CITY (WATE) -- In the coming days, gun owners, whether they have a permit or not, will no longer be allowed to carry guns inside any Lenoir City owned building.
"These are times in which it could be dangerous. We've seen incidents all over the country. I think it was a good, prudent move by city council to do this," says city administrator Dale Hurst.
Violating the ban is a criminal act and violators can be fined up to $50. To enforce the ordinance, signs are expected to be clearly posted at the entrances of all city buildings.
But the new ordinance brings to light a current state law that allows local business owners to prohibit people from bringing guns inside stores.
The law states, "An individual, corporation, business entity or local, state,or federal government entity or agent thereof is authorized to prohibit the possession of weapons..."
The law gives hardware store owner Jo Ann Jenkins the right to ban guns in her store if she chooses.
"We've got certain rights and carrying a gun is one of them," Jenkins says.
She believes few places will actually use the law, especially if they've never had a problem.
"I doubt I've ever had more than 10 people come in carrying a gun except police officials so I have never had any problems," Jenkins says.
Lenoir City officials say they've never had any problems with citizens bringing guns inside city buildings.
***************************************************************************************************************************
But what about:
39-17-1314. Local regulation of firearms and ammunition preempted by state regulation — Actions against firearms or ammunition manufacturers, trade associations or dealers. —
(a) No city, county, or metropolitan government shall occupy any part of the field of regulation of the transfer, ownership, possession or transportation of firearms, ammunition or components of firearms or combinations thereof; provided, that the provisions of this section shall be prospective only and shall not affect the validity of any ordinance or resolution lawfully enacted before April 8, 1986.