Hamblen County unlikely to opt out

[Tim Nunan]

http://www.citizentribune.com/news/view ... icle=12775

Purkey: County unlikely to opt out
By Bobbie Young, Tribune Staff Writer


While numerous cities and counties have opted out of the new state law allowing guns in parks, Hamblen County apparently isn’t going to be one of them.

"That’s not something that anyone’s asked to be put on the agenda," County Mayor David Purkey said. "It’s not on our radar yet."

Hamblen County also is in what may be a unique situation. The only county park, Cherokee Park, has a trap shooting range within its grounds. The range has been there for "many, many years," Purkey said.

"That would have to be considered when and if the commission looks at the law," Purkey said. "How do we allow guns for use on the range and keep others out. Weapons are weapons."

The Morristown City Council will not take action on the opt-out clause of the legislation until after the Parks and Recreation Board has considered the issue at a meeting Aug. 13.

The Dandridge City Council has decided to not opt out of the legislation, meaning guns are allowed in that city’s parks.

The Newport City Council will consider the issue at a work session Tuesday.

In East Tennessee, Bristol, Johnson City and Chattanooga have all opted out, meaning guns are forbidden in their parks.

Williamson and Shelby are among the counties that have opted out.

At parks operated by cities and counties where officials have voted to opt out of the law, the maximum possible penalty for violators continues to be a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail.

Dennis Huffer, an attorney for the Municipal Technical Advisory Service agency that helped develop the opt-out resolution that cities are using to exempt their parks, said it is likely there will be more opt-outs in urban areas.

"You think of rural areas as being comfortable with hunting and more comfortable around guns," he said.

"So far that has been sort of the trend with the bigger cities opting out."