Let them have it

[Seminole]

The notoriously anti-carry Memphis Commercial Appeal says it wants your opinion on a bill before the TN General Assembly this week.

Tell 'Hot Button' what you think: Should handguns be allowed in public parks?

Originally published 12:01 p.m., February 20, 2009
Updated 05:58 p.m., February 19, 2009

The Tennessee legislature's Hand Gun Study Committee has recommended passage of several bills loosening some of the state's restrictions on where handguns may legally be carried.

One of the bills that will be considered soon by a House Judiciary subcommittee would allow Tennesseans who hold handgun carry permits to take a gun into "any park ... owned or operated by any municipal, county or state government, or instrumentality thereof," as well as any federal park in Tennessee. The proposal would bar cities and counties from prohibiting handguns in their parks, playgrounds and ball fields.

We'd like to know what you think:

Should Tennessee legislators change the law to allow people with handgun carry permits to take their weapons into any city, county or state park? Why or why not?

E-mail your response to [email protected] by Feb. 24. Keep it short (three or four sentences, if you can) and include your name, home address and daytime/evening telephone numbers where you can be reached. We'll publish selected comments on March 1.

Let them have it!

 

[Milkmaster]

I just posted my response....

I have no more problem with licensed handgun carriers being around me in a resturant eating dinner than I do having licensed handgun carriers being in a Walmart. Carrying inside somewhere like Walmart is currently legal! Seeing firearms in resturants, state parks, ball games, or anywhere else doesn't bother me. Last I knew about it, I can still carry a butcher knife into a state park! You see, it is those with criminal intent that will carry everywhere regardless of the law that pose the problem. Why should I not have the right to defend myself in those places just like the others?

 

[tyler500e]

Email sent.

Yes, I believe that Handguns should be allowed in public parks with a valid Conceal Carry permit. If you look at the statistics, there are very few permit holders that get arrested for either violent or non-violent offenses. They went through the necessary steps to legally carry a weapon, that criminals don't, because criminals don't obey our laws.

 

[Seminole]

Thanks, folks!

Keep it up.

 

[TMM]

i sent one too, the gist being, "restricting guns in any area results in only criminals having guns"
too bad the deadline is tomorrow.

tmm

 

[TexasRedneck]

My email:

Why should anyone be concerned that a person that has been trained, has
their backgrounds checked, and is obviously a law-abiding citizen might be
armed? I'd rather have someone around that is LEGALLY carrying a sidearm
than the criminal element that will carry whether it's legal or not.

I'm not a resident of your area - I live in Texas, but I find that most
folks don't stop to really consider that those legally carrying a weapon are
much more likely to be peaceful, law-abiding citizens than those that carry
without a permit!

George Mandry
New Braunfels, TX