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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:58 pmNicholasBeadle's page Recommend (12) Male, Jackson, Tenn. About Me: My blog — "Motion Carried" — covers the latest news and offbeat stuff in local government.
I have been the government and politics reporter for The Jackson Sun since June 2007.
You can reach me at (731) 425-9763 or nbeadle@jacksonsun.com. Leave me a public message Send me a private message Add me as a friend
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Motion Carried
Government and politics in Jackson and Madison County, Tenn.
As expected, Jackson City Council members this morning voted down Councilman Ernest Brooks’ proposal to ban guns in parks in response to new state law.
The vote was nearly identical to one two years ago on the issue. Brooks and Councilman Harvey Buchanan were the only two favoring the proposed ordinance. Councilman Johnny Dodd abstained from the vote.
Here’s three things to take from today’s meeting:
1. Today’s ‘Duh’ statement: Pro-gun forces are fairly well organized in West Tennessee
Gun advocates began bombarding the council with complaints as word got out about Brooks’ proposals.
Several showed up this morning, leading a long series of sermons about how law-abiding gun permit holders are and how dangerous it is to have “gun-free zones.” One man even referenced last weekend’s fatal shooting of retired Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair.
Richard Archie, who leads the West Tennessee chapter of the Tennessee Firearms Association, said that proposed guns-in-parks ban was “advocating for the criminal element.”
2. ‘Protect the children’ wasn’t a winning argument
Especially since a solid chunk of council members are fairly adamant gun rights supporters themselves.
“I disagree that the moral high ground is to protect children,” Ellis told Brooks. “… There’s no more fundamental right than to protect one’s family.:
Brooks read a long list of playgrounds and public parks where guns could be carried and Tony Black, who oversees Jackson’s parks, said that violent incidents at parks are rare.
Ellis, however, questioned whether police only responded to reports of attacks in city parks or if they were able to prevent them.
Black said police responded to the incidents.
Ellis also questioned whether there were liability concerns that show the need for more security at the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex travel baseball facility, the managers of which had said in a letter sent to council members on Monday that they were for the guns-in-parks ban.
3. Things don’t look good for Brooks’ guns-in-bars proposal
But that was probably evident from the start, and Brooks acknowledged votes were likely against him on both proposals last week.
Brooks said he was “disappointed” not discouraged by today’s outcome, but said he still thinks the proposals are in the best interest of Jackson families and children.
Empty seats
All nine council members were present at today’s meeting.
Looking ahead
I’ll have a gun heavy story for tomorrow’s paper, and more posts today on some of the other things council members talked about in addition to some more explanation of the McNair reference that popped up.
I have been the government and politics reporter for The Jackson Sun since June 2007.
You can reach me at (731) 425-9763 or nbeadle@jacksonsun.com. Leave me a public message Send me a private message Add me as a friend
Report Abuse
Home Public Messages Comments Photos Blog
Motion Carried
Government and politics in Jackson and Madison County, Tenn.
As expected, Jackson City Council members this morning voted down Councilman Ernest Brooks’ proposal to ban guns in parks in response to new state law.
The vote was nearly identical to one two years ago on the issue. Brooks and Councilman Harvey Buchanan were the only two favoring the proposed ordinance. Councilman Johnny Dodd abstained from the vote.
Here’s three things to take from today’s meeting:
1. Today’s ‘Duh’ statement: Pro-gun forces are fairly well organized in West Tennessee
Gun advocates began bombarding the council with complaints as word got out about Brooks’ proposals.
Several showed up this morning, leading a long series of sermons about how law-abiding gun permit holders are and how dangerous it is to have “gun-free zones.” One man even referenced last weekend’s fatal shooting of retired Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair.
Richard Archie, who leads the West Tennessee chapter of the Tennessee Firearms Association, said that proposed guns-in-parks ban was “advocating for the criminal element.”
2. ‘Protect the children’ wasn’t a winning argument
Especially since a solid chunk of council members are fairly adamant gun rights supporters themselves.
“I disagree that the moral high ground is to protect children,” Ellis told Brooks. “… There’s no more fundamental right than to protect one’s family.:
Brooks read a long list of playgrounds and public parks where guns could be carried and Tony Black, who oversees Jackson’s parks, said that violent incidents at parks are rare.
Ellis, however, questioned whether police only responded to reports of attacks in city parks or if they were able to prevent them.
Black said police responded to the incidents.
Ellis also questioned whether there were liability concerns that show the need for more security at the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex travel baseball facility, the managers of which had said in a letter sent to council members on Monday that they were for the guns-in-parks ban.
3. Things don’t look good for Brooks’ guns-in-bars proposal
But that was probably evident from the start, and Brooks acknowledged votes were likely against him on both proposals last week.
Brooks said he was “disappointed” not discouraged by today’s outcome, but said he still thinks the proposals are in the best interest of Jackson families and children.
Empty seats
All nine council members were present at today’s meeting.
Looking ahead
I’ll have a gun heavy story for tomorrow’s paper, and more posts today on some of the other things council members talked about in addition to some more explanation of the McNair reference that popped up.