No Guns In Jonesborough Parks, For Now.
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No Guns In Jonesborough Parks, For Now.
Jonesborough has now officially banned guns in parks, as the Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to opt out of the state's controversial guns in park legislation Thursday morning. They added a sunshine...
Dana Wachter/11 Connects
Guns in parks supporters sat in the meeting for the vote.
Jonesborough, Tenn.—The town of Jonesborough Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to opt out of the state’s controversial guns in park legislation this morning.
Mayor Kelly Wolfe said he was conflicted because he has a concealed carry permit, and understands the desire to protect yourself and your family. However, he acknowledged the safe community they live in. In a unanimous vote among the mayor and his board of aldermen, guns are banned from parks in the town.
Most parks in Jonesborough are small, or sports fields, and officials decided it was better to err on the side of caution when it comes to guns around children.
They took the advice of the town’s lawyer to add a sunshine provision, so that they can come back and decide if they want to keep their decision within a year.
Community and NRA members were at the meeting to show their concern for the ban. They think that if the system of allowing guns in parks has not been a problem so far, why should the town worry now?
“They’re talking about a weapons ban?“ says Eric Anderson. “It’s like saying that sky is falling. O.K., protect the children? With what? Someone grabs a child out of a park, and a mother is supposed to fight off somebody?“
By banning guns in parks, the town will need to put up signs at each park entrance, telling people of the change.
The state law that allows guns in parks will go into effect September 1.
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Reader Reactions
I am a woman, a mother, and have my handgun carry permit. I carry my weapon the majority of the time. I am not a gun toting viligante out to kill everyone. The majority of people with permits are very discret and actually more cautious. We understand the gravity of our decision to carry a gun. We take that very seriously.
I have always had the utmost respect for law enforcement but unfortunately the number of criminals greatly outnumber police officers.
I hope I am never in a situation where I need to use my weapon. But I am glad to know I have it as resource.
I read the post about it is ok for cops to have there side arms when there off duty, they should be no different than anyone else. I think police officers is over rated and all they are interested in is throwing power they think they have around. If the law would be changed were guns was allowed there would be alot less crime. Just like the shooting in Kingsport, that guy will probally end up getting charged and I think he should be told good job. I pray nobody would ever have to use one but I would rather know someone was around to help me or my family if someone was trying to hurt us. How would you know if you was at your kids event and cop was in street clothes with a side arm on? Besides most look cocky with a attitude.
I’m sorry ma’am, I meant no disrespect. I saw that your username started with Thomas and assumed you were a guy. And yes, I did take it personally when you accused me of only thinking of my ego. I simply believe that an area where people are allowed to carry a weapon legally is safer than an area where they’re outlawed outright. On that, I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree. And although the state of Tennessee doesn’t require a permit holder to keep their guns concealed, must people do so for the very reason you stated. We don’t want to make people feel uncomfortable. I’m glad you know how to use a gun and I hope and pray you never have to use it either. If you chose not to carry it, that’s fine. That’s your right. But I should also be able to exercise my right to do so.
Ignorance is not bliss. And I dont think that everyone that carries a gun is a “cowboy”. I just do not see the point or even why you would want to take a weapon around children. In my opinion it says the wrong thing to our kids.
Carry permit holders are not gun toting wild west vigilantes. They also do not carry their guns around their waist in holsters for all the world to see. You will not have to worry about your child being scared by a permit holder. As was stated earlier there is a good chance that the person in front of you at the grocery could be carrying a weapon and you or your child would never know it.
The old bumper sticker says it best, “When Guns Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Guns”
I read correctly and I hope you never have to use it either and I congratulate you on the fact that you can use it. I can use one too if I needed to. But look at it from my point of view. As a mother, i’m not sure why you think I am a sir, i do not want to see a handgun on anyone other than a police officer at my child’s soccer game, I just dont. Guns are not associated with pleasant things regardless of if you can use it or not. That does not matter to me. The fact is that no matter how good you can use a weapon any time you add it to the mix the chances of incident is greater. If someone wants to shoot you there gonna shoot you whether you have a gun or not and if you shoot back you just doubled the odds of someone getting injured. And lets face it not everyone is gonna have the restraint that you say you have. Not everyone is gonna go for their phone 1st. My argument is not directly with you and you seem to be taking personaly. My problem is with the idea of it. Do you not see that for children who are not accustomed to seeing a weapon in public that it can be scary especially since we are now teaching them in school the dangers of firearms. We teach children that you should tell a grown up any time you see a gun and it is not on a police officer. How confusing is that. Why do you feel you have a right to make my child feel unsafe in a place that should be associated with fun and good times?
You sir need to learn to read. I said that I hope to God I never have to use my gun, EVER, but I’m responsible enough to learn to use it. You wouldn’t send a teenager out in a car without training him first would you? Ego has nothing to do with it. I’d rather have one and never use it, then need one and not have it. You act as if everyone with a gun is a cowboy ready to draw down on someone. I’m simply stating that my right to protect myself and my family should not stop at the gate to a PUBLIC park that MY tax money is going to pay for, any more than your right to voice your opinion there. And your child is safer from my gun than they are from the soccer ball they’re playing with. Especially, since unlike the criminals, I actually obey the law. Even the stupid ones that I don’t agree with.
Well jimmyriddletn you sure do think alot of yourself and your sidearm and you are entitled to your opinion. But once again I will clarify for you I did not say I was against your right to carry a handgun. I simply stated that I believe it is a bad idea to have them in a park or at a soccer game. I believe the solution you are looking for might be to keep an eye on your kids when your out. The majority of children taken are unsupervised. I have been around guns my entire life there are guns in my home. I simply feel that the safety of children is more important than your need to gratify your ego.
Spending 8 hours in a handgun safety glass makes you about as proficient as putting a badge on does for a police officer. Nobody that I know thinks that. I spend every weekend that I can at the range practicing with my weapon, so if God forbid, I ever have to use it, I’ll be proficient enough to hit who I’m aiming at. And for your information, if I saw someone grab a kid in the park, I would reach for my cell phone and call the cops, not my gun. For the simple fact that I don’t know the situation. Maybe the kid was taken by a parent and this was the rightful gardian taking them back. You never use a weapon unless there’s a threat of serious bodily harm or death and you KNOW what’s going on.
In “The Town of Castle Rock v. Gonzales”, the Supreme Court found that the police have no duty to enforce restraining orders or to be your personal body guards. That leaves one person to protect you and your family and that’s YOU. There are 90 registered sex offenders living in this area. 5 convicted rapists and 5 sexual batterers in the Jonesborough area alone. Now, if one of these individuals decides to go back to his evil ways, where do you think he’d go? A park where his intended victim or victim’s parent MAY be armed, or a park where he KNOWS they ARE NOT armed? You can feel free to go to the parks here in Jonesborough with your kids. I will not.
And I hate to break it to you, but odds are, you’ve been in line at the store behind someone who’s armed. You’ve probably been in the movies sitting in front of someone who’s armed, and you’ve probably cut off someone in traffic that’s armed. And what happened? Nothing.
I couldn’t agree with you more, thomasojt0622.
Everyone who has taken an afternoon class for their permit seems to think they are now a sharpshooter hero. I would rather leave the protecting up to the police who are trained to protect and serve.
I have heard the argument that the police cant get to the scene on time. Well, if a kid gets grabbed, then “wild bill” pulls out his gun and starts firing…then you have more than just that one life in danger.
Guns have no place in parks where children play. Period.
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