Gun Banner’s Claim Doesn’t Match Police/News Account

[Pat McGarrity]

During the legally carried guns in parks hearing by the Bartlett Mayor and Board of Aldermen last week, gun banner, Janet Sutton, testified that a permit holder admitted to dropping their gun on a playground in Kingsport, TN, implying that this was done in a public park. That’s NOT what the Kingsport media and police say happened. A gun was found on September 17th on the private playground of the Mafair United Methodist Church in Kingsport. The Kingsport Times-News did NOT report that a carry permit holder dropped a gun:

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

Additionally, Kingsport PD Captain Ed Swayze, quoted in the article, did NOT tell the newspaper that a CPH dropped their gun, and that is NOT what Captain Swayze told me today when we spoke. There wasn't any mention of a CPH admitting to that in the article, as Ms. Sutton claimed.

It's much more likely that someone not trained, background checked, with their fingerprints on file, and certified, 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 their feelings over facts. I respect honest debate, but either making up claims to support their groundless fears, or parroting propaganda talking points from anti-gun groups, is not credible. To do that at a public hearing is an insult to the public, our elected officials and the process.

I ask the Bartlett Mayor and Board of Aldermen to take into account that Ms. Sutton’s testimony was not accurate, in making their decision regarding legally carried guns by their responsible constituents in our parks.

In Liberty,

Pat McGarrity
Director - Shelby County TFA


"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel.”

- Patrick Henry, Virginia's Ratification convention, 1788

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