Petition Drive Underway to Allow Handguns in Camp Jordan

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) – An East Ridge resident wants the city council to change its policy and allow permit holders to carry handguns in Camp Jordan.
Tennessee state law allows the weapons in state parks, and most other places, unless a city votes to opt out.
A petition drive is now underway in East Ridge.

MATTHEW BRANUM, CIRCULATING PETITION "You know I’ve got a lot of people mad at me right now…and I just feel like its because I’ve stood up for something."

In 2009 the East Ridge city council decided to ban guns in local parks. It was the same choice all Tennessee cities had, and many did the same.
But 26-year old Matthew Branum, who has lived near Camp Jordan most of his life, says there are reasons to change that policy.

MATTHEW BRANUM "There’s a lot of transient people that pass through here ..You never know who its going to be..what they have..what their motives are."

Camp Jordan is frequently packed with local residents and visitors–there to attend sporting events, or exhibits in the main hall including, ironically a couple of gun shows a year.
East Ridge vice mayor Marc Gravitt was not on council in 2009 but he has heard from those who say allowing handguns would discourage people from coming out to those big events.

MARC GRAVITT, EAST RIDGE VICE MAYOR "If that is one of their concerns, as a compromise you can always make a gun-free zone around the ball fields."

Gravitt points out that he is an NRA member and has no specific objection to allowing permit holders to carry weapons in the park, but he questions the heated facebook debate now going on.

MARC GRAVITT "It’s not as dangerous a place as what some of the people on "facebook" have been insinuating."

The city has hired an additional police officer to patrol the park.
Branum is conducting his petition drive on-line.

MATTHEW BRANUM "Its at "petitions.com….and go to the search field in there and type-in East Ridge city council..and it should bring it up on the first page."

Incidentally, in addition to being the vice-mayor of East Ridge, Marc Gravitt was also elected to the state legislature, District 30, last November .