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Resolution would ban concealed handguns in NLR parks
BY JAKE SANDLIN
ARKANSAS Democrat-GAZETTE
Even a concealed weapons permit won’t let picnickers pack a handgun in any North Little Rock park under a proposed city ordinance.
Jumping ahead of a state law that takes effect Wednesday, the North Little Rock City Council will consider a resolution today requesting that signs be posted prohibiting concealed handguns in all city parks. The council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
The city law would go against state Act 1110 of 2003 that specifically removed parks and restaurants from a list of specific places where the carrying of a permitted concealed handgun is forbidden. The state law is one of 657 that take effect Wednesday.
That same act also says the carrying of concealed handguns may be banned to everyone except law enforcement officers, including off-duty officers, at other locations, "at the discretion of the person or entity exercising control over" the location. All that is required is a posted notice of the ban.
"Clearly it allows the entity that controls the location to prohibit it," North Little Rock City Attorney Paul Suskie said. "We’re going to exercise our rights under that same statute to say you can’t have [a concealed handgun ] in our parks."
North Little Rock’s action, if approved, could start a ripple effect through other city parks systems to ensure the safety of park patrons, one parks director said.
"If North Little Rock can pull it off, you can bet I’ll be getting a copy and asking our city board to do the same," said Bryan Day, director of Little Rock’s Parks and Recreation Department. "Guns and parks don’t mix."
While the state parks system isn’t considering a similar ban, the state law needs clarification, said Richard Davies, director of the state Department of Parks and Tourism.
While the law specifically excludes parks from the concealed handgun prohibition, another section forbids weapons in any building that houses a state government office.
"There goes all the visitors centers, the lodges, the interpretative centers," said Davies, a North Little Rock resident. "That basically cuts out most of the major buildings in our parks system."
Davies said his department may ask the state parks commission next month to amend regulations to allow people with a valid concealed handgun permits to have their handguns in areas such as individual rental cabins and free-standing restrooms.
No problems in the parks prompted the proposed gun ban, sponsored by city Alderman Murry Witcher, Suskie and parks officials said.
Parks commissioners didn’t initiate the action, North Little Rock Parks Commission Chairman Vicki Stephens said, though she would support the ban in parks, she added.
"It’s caught me off guard," she said.
"There’s not an incident I’m aware of that has happened that’s caused some concern."
For Little Rock’s Day the reasoning is simple.
"Parks are about family values and safe places," Day said. "To allow a concealed weapon in a park just doesn’t follow that thought."
Two other issues involving city parks or public safety are also on the Council’s agenda.
Six of the city’s eight aldermen are sponsoring an ordinance to clarify that alcohol is forbidden in city parks "unless authorized by the parks and recreation commission."
The ordinance also clarifies to whom the commission may grant a temporary beer permit. That question was the basis of a recent lawsuit by two residents who tried to prevent beer sales at the July 4-5 Busch/Pepsi Men’s Softball Classic at Burns Park and Vestal Park.
Pulaski County Circuit Court dismissed the lawsuit.
The Council expects to also vote on banning wolves, wolf hybrids and other innately wild animals from being kept inside the city, a response to a lawsuit by a North Little Rock couple accused by animal control officers of owning two wolf hybrids.
This story was published Monday, July 14, 2003
Resolution would ban concealed handguns in NLR parks
BY JAKE SANDLIN
ARKANSAS Democrat-GAZETTE
Even a concealed weapons permit won’t let picnickers pack a handgun in any North Little Rock park under a proposed city ordinance.
Jumping ahead of a state law that takes effect Wednesday, the North Little Rock City Council will consider a resolution today requesting that signs be posted prohibiting concealed handguns in all city parks. The council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
The city law would go against state Act 1110 of 2003 that specifically removed parks and restaurants from a list of specific places where the carrying of a permitted concealed handgun is forbidden. The state law is one of 657 that take effect Wednesday.
That same act also says the carrying of concealed handguns may be banned to everyone except law enforcement officers, including off-duty officers, at other locations, "at the discretion of the person or entity exercising control over" the location. All that is required is a posted notice of the ban.
"Clearly it allows the entity that controls the location to prohibit it," North Little Rock City Attorney Paul Suskie said. "We’re going to exercise our rights under that same statute to say you can’t have [a concealed handgun ] in our parks."
North Little Rock’s action, if approved, could start a ripple effect through other city parks systems to ensure the safety of park patrons, one parks director said.
"If North Little Rock can pull it off, you can bet I’ll be getting a copy and asking our city board to do the same," said Bryan Day, director of Little Rock’s Parks and Recreation Department. "Guns and parks don’t mix."
While the state parks system isn’t considering a similar ban, the state law needs clarification, said Richard Davies, director of the state Department of Parks and Tourism.
While the law specifically excludes parks from the concealed handgun prohibition, another section forbids weapons in any building that houses a state government office.
"There goes all the visitors centers, the lodges, the interpretative centers," said Davies, a North Little Rock resident. "That basically cuts out most of the major buildings in our parks system."
Davies said his department may ask the state parks commission next month to amend regulations to allow people with a valid concealed handgun permits to have their handguns in areas such as individual rental cabins and free-standing restrooms.
No problems in the parks prompted the proposed gun ban, sponsored by city Alderman Murry Witcher, Suskie and parks officials said.
Parks commissioners didn’t initiate the action, North Little Rock Parks Commission Chairman Vicki Stephens said, though she would support the ban in parks, she added.
"It’s caught me off guard," she said.
"There’s not an incident I’m aware of that has happened that’s caused some concern."
For Little Rock’s Day the reasoning is simple.
"Parks are about family values and safe places," Day said. "To allow a concealed weapon in a park just doesn’t follow that thought."
Two other issues involving city parks or public safety are also on the Council’s agenda.
Six of the city’s eight aldermen are sponsoring an ordinance to clarify that alcohol is forbidden in city parks "unless authorized by the parks and recreation commission."
The ordinance also clarifies to whom the commission may grant a temporary beer permit. That question was the basis of a recent lawsuit by two residents who tried to prevent beer sales at the July 4-5 Busch/Pepsi Men’s Softball Classic at Burns Park and Vestal Park.
Pulaski County Circuit Court dismissed the lawsuit.
The Council expects to also vote on banning wolves, wolf hybrids and other innately wild animals from being kept inside the city, a response to a lawsuit by a North Little Rock couple accused by animal control officers of owning two wolf hybrids.
This story was published Monday, July 14, 2003
