Legislation to Ban Guns at Park Venues Ramps Up

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – The guns in parks debate is ramping up as two Democrat Tennessee law makers are proposing legislation that bans firearms at certain park venues.

Currently, local government cannot restrict those with handgun carry permits to be armed in parks.

But these parks host music festivals, like Riverbend, that attract hundreds of thousands of people and serve alcohol…and that’s where Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris has a problem.

"If these new laws regarding guns and large crowded events are allowed to stand, some of these long standing festivals will have to consider moving out of public parks," said Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris.

Riverbend has always been gun-free, but the state attorney general says if the event is held in a park where guns are legal, organizers don’t have the right to ban guns with legal carry permits.

Riverbend director Chip Baker said allowing guns in the festival is very irresponsible and doesn’t make sense.

But one Republican lawmaker said this proposed legislation is harassing law abiding citizens.

"Gun crimes are perpetrated by people carrying guns illegally," said Senator Bo Watson. "We know who has a permit and we want to target them by bringing legislation to restrict their rights. Let’s figure out a way to deal with the folks who are carrying these guns around illegally. That’s who we need to be afraid of."

Some local law enforcement see the difference in park size as something to take into account.

"I think there’s a little difference between say one of the local parks on the river like Chester Frost Park, Harrison bay State Park, Booker T Washington Park, and local versus the river front where you have Riverbend with a hundred thousand people," said Chief Deputy Allen Branum with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.