FAST FACTS
(Bartlett 9/22/2009) One man stood up, pumped his fist in the air and shouted "I'm NRA, that's my vote. "
The Bartlett man was just one of many residents who took to their feet and cheered when Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald asked who's in favor of guns in parks.
Residents on both sides of the issue took to the podium to express their views. Both sides were given 20 minutes to plead their cases.
Terry Fondren was one of nearly a dozen residents who urged the Bartlett Board of Aldermen to allow permit holders to pack heat in parks.
By opening up the ordinance and banning us from carrying concealed weapons in our parks, they're telling the criminals to come on in."
Jack Coleman doesn't agree. "We've never had guns in parks and we don't need them now." He's one of several people, including the head of the parks advisory board, who spoke out against guns in the parks.
"It's a risk for our children," explained Coleman. There's arguments to be made that we could be safer. We've got the finest police force in Shelby County and there's no use in not letting them do their job."
Coleman added it should be put to a vote of the people during the next election.
According to a high ranking officer at the Bartlett Police Department, there have only been about three armed incidents in 20-plus years in Bartlett parks.
Mayor Keith McDonald is licensed to carry and planned on keeping the ban in place. That is until he says he got dozens of persuasive e-mails against the ban and talked to his wife.
"I said do you feel safer when I'm carrying my gun? And she said 'yes' and so I was like other families probably feel that way."
No decision was made Tuesday night. The final vote is scheduled for October 27.
- Permit holders urge city leaders to allow them to carry guns in parks
- Some argued a ban violates their Second Amendment rights
- Others say guns disrupt serenity of parks
(Bartlett 9/22/2009) One man stood up, pumped his fist in the air and shouted "I'm NRA, that's my vote. "
The Bartlett man was just one of many residents who took to their feet and cheered when Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald asked who's in favor of guns in parks.
Residents on both sides of the issue took to the podium to express their views. Both sides were given 20 minutes to plead their cases.
Terry Fondren was one of nearly a dozen residents who urged the Bartlett Board of Aldermen to allow permit holders to pack heat in parks.
By opening up the ordinance and banning us from carrying concealed weapons in our parks, they're telling the criminals to come on in."
Jack Coleman doesn't agree. "We've never had guns in parks and we don't need them now." He's one of several people, including the head of the parks advisory board, who spoke out against guns in the parks.
"It's a risk for our children," explained Coleman. There's arguments to be made that we could be safer. We've got the finest police force in Shelby County and there's no use in not letting them do their job."
Coleman added it should be put to a vote of the people during the next election.
According to a high ranking officer at the Bartlett Police Department, there have only been about three armed incidents in 20-plus years in Bartlett parks.
Mayor Keith McDonald is licensed to carry and planned on keeping the ban in place. That is until he says he got dozens of persuasive e-mails against the ban and talked to his wife.
"I said do you feel safer when I'm carrying my gun? And she said 'yes' and so I was like other families probably feel that way."
No decision was made Tuesday night. The final vote is scheduled for October 27.
