Knoxville loosens gun ban at site of Tennessee Valley Fair

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The city of Knoxville has agreed to end a gun ban at the site of the Tennessee Valley Fair when ticketed events aren’t going on.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that the gun policy change was made in repose to a lawsuit filed by a Loudon County woman in 2015, who said she was afraid to attend the fair unarmed, despite having a state-issued handgun carry permit.

The Legislature earlier that year passed a law to prohibit cities and counties from banning guns at parks, playgrounds and ballfields.

The lawsuit was filed after the city officials contended that Chilhowee Park is not a “park” as defined by the law but rather a “public assembly, entertainment and education venue used for civic events and by contractors for special events.”

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