Guns in Parks
Thank You Williamson County School Board!!! Williamson County imposes permanent ban on guns in parks FRANKLIN — Once again, Williamson County commissioners have voted to ban guns from all county-owned parks — but this time, the ban is permanent.
& Williamson County Planning Commission. see below
Can someone at NISSAN North America please contact the state of Tennessee and find out why this is not a statewide ban. Encourage them to "keep guns out of public parks"
It's for the children.
Thanks
Sharyn
Message for Mr. Looney, I won't be at the meeting tonight. I've heard that I make people nervous and I want concerned parents to feel comfortable asking questions. Can you please bring up the "healthy treat" concept and maybe some nutrition programs. Sir, thank you for working for the students I hear your doing a great job. Have a great night!!! Sharyn
Children and Guns is "not the brightest".
Let's keep Tennessee on track for success.
If not for the children....for YOUR home values. Just something to "think" about.
On Monday night, commissioners voted 19-5 in favor of a resolution that prohibits anyone, including handgun carry permit holders, from bringing a firearm into a park. Before voting, commissioners heard impassioned pleas from residents on both sides of the issue.
“The right to self-defense doesn’t end at a park boundary, or any other arbitrary boundary,” said Bill Robinson, a Franklin resident and handgun carry permit holder.
“I’m not against our nation’s right to keep and bear arms, but I’m unequivocally against carrying guns in our parks,” said Sherry Hamond, of Brentwood.
State lawmakers passed legislation last year that allows people with handgun carry permits to bring their firearms into public parks, leaving the decision to “opt out” of the provision in the hands of counties and cities. Last July, commissioners voted to opt out of the state regulations and ban guns from parks, but set an expiration date on the ban — May 31, 2010.
Guns in Parks Resolution
The Williamson County Board of Education met in special session last night and voted unanimously to pass a resolution urging the Williamson County Commission to opt out of the handguns in parks Act passed by the General Assembly last year. The Commission will vote on the issue at its meeting Monday, June 14 at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium.
If the Commission does not opt out, the district will not be able to use county parks for athletic,
academic or any other events. The resolution passed by the Board follows.
A RESOLUTION OF THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
WHEREAS, the Williamson County Board of Commissioners will meet in regular session on the 14th day of June, 2010, to consider whether to opt out of the provisions of Public Chapter 428 of the 2009 Public Acts of the 106th General Assembly, which amended T.C.A. § 39-17-1311 (“the Act”); and
WHEREAS, said Act removed the prohibition against carrying handguns in public parks but
allowed county governments to prohibit, by resolution, the carrying of handguns while within
a public park or other recreational area that is owned or operated by a county; and
WHEREAS, most Williamson County schools use Williamson County parks for recreational and academic purposes; and
WHEREAS, many Williamson County high and middle schools rely on the use of Williamson
County parks for interscholastic athletic purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Williamson County Board of Education takes the safety of all students, parents,
and citizens participating in school events very seriously and regards safety as being of the
utmost importance; and
WHEREAS, the Williamson County Board of Education believes strongly and supports the
Constitutional rights of all citizens; and
WHEREAS, T.C.A. § 39-17-1309 prohibits the carrying of firearms or other weapons on any
property used by a board of education; and
WHEREAS, Attorney General Opinion No. 09-129 unambiguously opines that this prohibition
applies “in public parks during times when the athletic fields or other recreational facilities
are actually being used by schools”; and
WHEREAS, as a matter of conscience and consistency with T.C.A. § 39-17-1309, which prohibits firearms or other weapons on school grounds and at school events, Williamson County
Schools shall not use Williamson County parks where handguns are allowed; and
WHEREAS, if the Board of Commissioners does not opt out of said Act, Williamson County
Schools must cancel its use of Williamson County parks for all purposes; and
WHEREAS, logistical, financial, and legal problems may arise if Williamson County Schools cannot use Williamson County parks and must find or obtain alternate facilities, and such problems would threaten to disrupt a number of the district’s academic and athletic programs;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Williamson County Board of Education
supports any resolution passed by the Williamson County Board of Commissioners electing to
prohibit the possession of handguns in parks according to the provisions of the Act.
Each school principal has a copy of the Board packet information.
The next regular meeting of the WCBE will be Monday, June 21, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. in the
auditorium of the administrative complex.
