Bristol Leaders Vote To Ban Handguns From City’s Public Parks
BRISTOL, Tenn. – In a passionate vote Tuesday night, City Council narrowly approved a resolution banning handguns from the city’s public parks – despite a state law that will soon allow them.
In a 3-2 vote, council approved the handgun-ban resolution, with members David Shumaker, Margaret Feierabend and Mayor Fred Testa voting “yes” and Joel Staton and James Messimer opposing it.
“We’re talking about handguns,” Shumaker said in support of the ban. “Let’s not mince words here. It’s a weapon designed for a human being to kill another human being. I’m not comfortable with that (in public parks).”
But Staton angrily blasted Shumaker’s view as “ridiculous” and said council’s resolution unfairly targets legal handgun owners who were properly trained to use the weapons, and who would make them visible in parks.
“It’s not the gun you can see that bothers me,” Staton said. “It’s the ones you can’t see.”
With Tuesday night’s vote, Bristol became the latest of several Tennessee cities rushing to keep handguns out of public parks. The vote heads off a state law, that takes effect Sept. 1, allowing legal owners to carry them in such places.
Johnson City officials approved a similar handgun-ban last week. Other cities, including Memphis, Chattanooga and Nashville, are considering their own measures to prohibit the weapons in parks.
The new Tennessee law has a loophole that allows cities to decide if they want to ban handguns in their parks. But those cities are required to approve resolutions before Sept. 1, with specific language stating that no handguns can be carried in public parks.
Bristol’s ban was supported by City Manager Jeff Broughton and Police Chief Blaine Wade.
In hammering home his own support Tuesday night, Shumaker said that while he personally owns firearms, he sees no reason for residents to carry handguns in heavily populated areas like parks.
He said the weapons might lead those carrying them to act as vigilantes or overreact to incidents inside the parks.
“Maybe it’s a macho thing,” Shumaker said.
But Bristol resident Greg Carrier criticized the resolution, and echoed Staton’s view that the ban wrongly singles out legal handgun owners, especially since few misuse their permits or have them revoked, he said.
“There’s been no evidence of irresponsible behavior,” Carrier told council members. “The only thing this legislation accomplishes is disarming law-abiding citizens.”
In other council action Tuesday, the members selected Testa and Feierabend to serve as mayor and vice-mayor, respectively, for this fiscal year.
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Reader Reactions
I’am a law abiding citizen and a handgun carrier Legally. You have got to remember that if you remove our hand guns from all the public places sooner or later the one’s that make the laws may wish they had a person that has the right to carry to deter harm to one of there family members or themself’s.Remember if you remove our guns the only ones that have them is the crimminals and if there isn’t a person around with a permit and knows how to use them many people could be hurt. It only takes one crimminal to kill but one honest gun owner can save many lives in return.
I am a Handgun Carry Permit (HCP) holder and am deeply disturbed by the Bristol City Council’s disregard of law-abiding citizen’s constitutional rights. I also rarely post on any kind of forum. However, I feel it is time to speak to this issue.
To obtain a Handgun Carry Permit, one must complete hours of classroom training, pass a written test of the material, qualify on a live shooting range, pay for the class and all associated fees to the state, apply for the permit, pass a background check, and be fingerprinted. Anyone who is willing to jump through all these hoops to obtain a legal permit to defend himself or herself should not be required to give up that right due to the ignorance of three people.
While most Bristolians are great folks, there have been times I have been in Steele Creek Park and felt very uncomfortable due to the actions of a few. You can rest assured that the criminals that want to do harm will be carrying no matter how many laws are made or how many signs are posted. It is the right of Americans to be able to defend themselves in such situations.
Bristol City Council, you blew it on this one!
Please remember this is the same city council that recently took away your right to recall them. You are stuck with them for a few more years. The only alternative you have is to make their lives miserable for as long as you can. Have fun!
While Mr. Shumaker did indeed provide the comic relief for the evening, do not forget that he had two able accomplices. It took three votes to pass this resolution, and Ms. Feirabend and Mr. Testa were more than willing to support Mr. Shumaker…indeed, given their total lack of comment and reaction during and after Council debate, one is left little choice but to believe that they likely agree with (or at very least, do not find objectionable) his outrageous remarks regarding these citizens of Bristol. They need to be held just as accountable as their mouthpiece, for without their co-operation he would have been no more than a a clanging gong or noisy cymbal.
I would find Mr. Shumakers comments regarding his vote laughable if it did not violate my 2nd Amendment rights.Sir, I would suggest in the future before you vote on something you might take the time to inform yourself of the truth. We ( permit Holders) are bound by strict guidelines as to how we may use or display a weapon-we don’t drop them, leave them laying about for children or wave them in the air. So, now that I am unable to defend myself or my family in your park, should that become necessary, I can only assume you will now vote to provide every person in the park with a Bristol police officer for protection!!! I am proud of the Tennessee Legislature for upholding our constitutional rights. Mr Staton and Mr Messimer, thank you for the honoring your oath of office.
Maybe it’s a sissy thing, Shumaker!
****“We’re talking about handguns,” Shumaker said in support of the ban. “Let’s not mince words here. It’s a weapon designed for a human being to kill another human being. I’m not comfortable with that (in public parks).
Does that mean you would be comfortable with it being done in a citizen’s home, protecting his family?
Maybe the NRA will help with the legal bills, and take the city to court on our behalf over this matter.
It shows that at least three city council members just don’t get it! They just voted against the law abiding citizens that elected them. I wish this was an issue made in time for this most recent city council election, however this vote will be remembered in the next one.
Let’s not mince words here. It’s a weapon designed for a human being to kill another human being. By the way, Mr. Shumaker, this is the very same thing that I was told when I joined the military to serve my country. Are you wanting to take away their arms, too?
I am a registered gun owner with a permit to carry a concealed weapon. I now know who I will not vote for in the next city election. I have no use for a public offical who it not interested in the use of legal force to protect ones self or another. The criminals now know a decent citizen will not be armed in a public park.
No EaTn, that means anyone who wants to can now kidnap,rape,kill or at the least maim the child you are worried about getting hold of a dropped gun. Those with permits have to take a course on gun safety and the use of guns. Permitted carriers don’t drop or leave their guns laying around. It’s obvious you have never faced a situition where the life of you or your loved ones have been in danger and the police weren’t close enough to save them.I hope you never go thur that. It’s horrible to watch someone be maimed or killed and you have nothing but your bare hands to defend them,because of people like you.
Thank you Bristol TN “leaders” for preselecting the city’s parks as safe havens for criminal activity to be conducted undeterred. The next time the rapist, robber, or general thug is looking for a place to work he will not have a hard time finding a place to do so. In this tough economy I guess you have done your duty to actually create jobs in the city.
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