Kingsport Playground Gun Question?

[Pat McGarrity]

During the legally carried guns in parks hearing in Bartlett this week, gun banner, Janet Sutton, stated that a permit holder admitted to dropping their gun out of their pocket on a playground. I found a story about a gun found at the Mafair United Methodist Church. The Kingsport Times-News did NOT report that a CPH had done this:

http://www.timesnews.net/print_article.php?id=9016934

Children find gun at Mafair United Methodist Church playground
By Rain Smith

Published September 17th, 2009

KINGSPORT - Children found a pistol at a Kingsport church's playground Wednesday evening.

According to the Rev. Kim Goddard, pastor of Mafair United Methodist Church on East Center Street, the incident occurred about 5 p.m. She said children playing prior to Wednesday services found the firearm.

When asked if the gun was loaded, she said, "I can't say for sure. Someone (in the congregation) said yes. Someone else said no."

According to Kingsport Police Department Capt. Ed Swayze, the gun was a Colt .380 pistol. He said an officer's report of the incident did not state if it was loaded.

He was not aware of any recent police chases where a fleeing suspect may have thrown the pistol into the playground, which is fenced in.

"I'd say it was just somebody out there that probably dropped it out of their pocket, because it's just a little small .380," Swayze said.

The report, according to Swayze, states the pistol was not stolen.

"I guess we'll check the pistol registration to see if we can find the owner, but it's not on the report."

In the article, Captain Swayze of the Kingsport PD supposed it was dropped, but DID NOT state that he thought it was from a CPH, nor was there any mention of a CPH admitting to that, as Ms. Sutton claimed. It's much more likely that someone not trained, as required by the state for a carry permit, would drop a weapon, or some other scenario not involving a CPH. If it had been a CPH, this would have been the leading story in the media since it happened.

As we see so often; when the facts don't support their hysteria, gun banners assume that gun owners are in the wrong, or just make up claims to support feelings over facts.

I left a voice mail with Kingsport PD asking if the owner of the gun had been located.

Does anyone in know more than this?

Thanks,

Pat McGarrity

Director - Shelby County TFA

[GKar]

TMK, the local media (I live in Bristol, just up the road from Kingsport) have not reported that the owner as been identified: therefore, it would impossible to know if was an HCP holder or not. And given our local media's disposition, if it there was any indication it was a permit holder, its very likely everybody on the Eastern seaboard would know.

[C. Richard Archie]

[Pat McGarrity]

Roger that GKar, thanks!

Will do Richard, it sounds like she was parroting talking points from some anti-gun group.

In Liberty,

Pat

[lilredhunter]

I agree, I would call her out on this and see if she can prove it. Most likely she can't. You know the way anti gunners are they will take sketchy info and spin it their way.