Brentwood, Williamson, Goodlettsville - Closed

[rheppert]

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.- Brentwood joins several other local governments in opting out of the new law to allow guns in parks.

The city council voted Monday night to ban guns from its local parks, after Williamson County commissioners already decided earlier in the day that guns should stay out of county parks.

A new law, to go into effect in September, allows guns in city and state parks, but cities and counties can opt out and make up their own law.

Many parents have said they believe guns have no place in parks where children play.
"When I first heard the initiative, I was actually aghast that they would even consider allowing guns in parks," said Todd Binns, who moved to Middle Tennessee a few months from California. "You don't come to a park and expect a threat, so I wouldn't see the need to bear arms in a park."

Binns says while he supports the second amendment, he thought Tennessee was going too far with legislation that allows permitted gun owners to carry guns in parks.
Anna Yontz said,"I don't feel that there's any need for us to carry guns around and protect ourselves in a family park."

It was expected that Brentwood city commissioners would vote to opt out of the state's law, but some of them felt the city shouldn't have been put in that position in the first place.
Commissioner Regina Smithson said, "The time and money and everything that's been spent on this for us as a city to opt out is ridiculous."

Brentwood isn't the only city to decide not to allow guns at its local parks.
Murfreesboro, Clarksville have already approved gun bans for parks. Franklin will take up its ban on Tuesday.

Though Williamson County commissioners unanimously voted to prohibit guns in county parks, they also agreed to reconsider the issue in May 2010.
Local governments have until September 1, which is when the new law allowing guns in parks takes effect, to decide whether to opt out of the new law.


Gun-toting got a recent nod from the state Legislature but not from the city of Goodlettsville.
The city’s board of commissioners has exercised the “opt-out” feature of a new state law effective Sept. 1 that will allow handguns in public facilities. The board voted to prohibit handguns in all city parks.
Included are municipal parks, natural areas, historic parks, nature trails, campgrounds, forests, greenways, waterways and similar public places in Goodlettsville.

“The City of Goodlettsville is one of the very first municipal or county governments to exercise the opt-out feature of the new state law,” says Goodlettsville Mayor John Finch in a release. “Gov. Bredesen signed the state legislation on June 12th. Goodlettsville City Commissioners adopted the 'opt out' resolution just 13 days later on June 25th.”

Finch says its part of promoting good community values and a “nurturing environment” for residents.
Goodlettsville officials say they received many requests from residents to exercise the opt-out feature, adding there were no requests to let the handgun law take effect. They say they have received expressions of thanks from local residents for passing the resolution.

Because Goodlettsville has exercised its option to prohibit handguns in public places, it is required by law to display signage declaring the carrying handguns by handgun permit holders in the city's parks unlawful.

[J A P]

I think it may not be very long before some of these cities may see the error in their ways. Lots of bad guys looking for easy targets.

[morg]

[volshayes]

Yes, Goodlettsville leaders got this passed before anyone had a chance to respond. They claim they never heard from anyone that was pro-carry, but I believe they would have heard plenty if they had not rushed it through so fast. Most people never got a chance to speak out before they voted to opt out. We'll get our chance to let them know our opinions of this at the polls in the next elections.

[David Lewis]

Is there some reason you have to wait until the next election cycle?

Are they prohibited from reconsidering their action...especially when faced with great public outcry over how the action was taken initially?

Raise a ruckus now!

David

[volshayes]