My neighbor brought over an orange post card she got yesterday advising members of that group to get to this meeting and get there early. Almost impressive that that group can print and mail post cards so fast. It is almost as if they knew way ahead of time what was going to be on the agenda, eh?

I wonder just how many of those orange post cards were sent all over TN?

Thanks, Rachel. You have to wonder if someone in Knox and Blount County are in cahoots, both having last minute changes to agendas for guns in parks. Does Steve Hall work that quickly to put more important items on the agenda?

I encourage people to show up for this meeting. Local governments don't always vote to the majority, but it always looks good to have support for your side of the issue. Also, you don't necessarily have to be from Knox County to show up and demonstrate support. We all use the parks of the largest government body in the area.

Like many other people, I fail to understand the current gun mania. I really don't think it is a good idea to have people carrying guns into restaurants, parks, etc. I really appreciate having this information. Thank you very much!

If you want to keep the gun ban then you all better round up school teachers and little league moms who are willing to put their kids in front of the council. Perhaps that group will be civil with little kids in the room. Or not.

The folks who support the ban are not understanding what the other side is doing to end the ban. The other side has mailed thousands of postcards to its members. The other side set up websites complete with names and address of all the council / commission members. They are blanketing those council/commission members not only with emails but letters mailed to the courthouse. Those calls, emails and letters are not just coming from Knox ( or Blount) residents but from group members across the state and county.

What happens in the Knox City Parks may not be controlled by local folks who use the parks but by those who call/fax/email from other areas.

KNS finally gets the story (I posted on this Friday). Guess it will make it into tomorrow's print edition.

Councilman Hall thinks guns should also be allowed in the City County Building.

Councilman Hall Would Require Antiaircraft Artillery in Public Spaces
Also wants cowboys to have advantage in "cowboys and Indians"

From APB reports. KNOXVILLE - Knoxville City Councilman Steve Hall is bringing the heated issues of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) in public places and armaments in children's games back to the forefront at city council's meeting Tuesday.

Hall is sponsoring a proposal to repeal an existing city ordinance that disallows firearms in public spaces and would instead require that citizens be armed whenever they enter a public space. The proposal would also require that cannons, bazookas, mortars, and "other forms of projectile-type armaments be available in public spaces in case of emergency."

Further, the proposal would ban anyone from carrying bows and arrows, crossbows, slings, battle axes, hand axes, blowguns, javelins, spears, swords, scimitars, pole arms, throwing stars, bolos, whips, chains, weighted saps, harpoons, baby-seal clubs, maces, tridents, daggers, knives, garrotes, sharpened sticks or pointy-ended rocks...

SOP-

If you don't have anything to run on, grab hold of the latest political fad.

The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present.
President Abraham Lincoln 1862

Chapter 428 is a poorly written bill and it would be interesting to know how it will rank in the history of screwed up bills.

Keep in mind that the AG has said

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1309 prohibits possession of firearms on various types of property, athletic fields and recreational facilities that are owned, used or operated by a school.4 By its plain terms, it prohibits the possession of firearms on athletic fields and recreational facilities, including those that are located in public parks, if such fields or facilities are actually being used by a school.

Chapter 428, on the other hand, amended Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1311 to authorize handgun carry permit holders to bring their firearms into public parks. There is nothing in its language to indicate that the legislature intended to modify in any way the prohibitions that are set forth in Tenn. Code ann. § 39-17-1309.

Chapter 428 also requires that the ban be for an entire park so there is no opting out for ball fields.

Campfield and McCord sure passed the buck on this mess. Make that group happy by dumping the actual responsibility on the local governing body.

Bonus round- 'schools' are not defined as just your local public K - 12 but includes private schools as well as colleges.

Commissioner trying to add gun-in-parks item to agenda

Knox County Commissioner Amy Broyles says children will be safer if people with gun carry permits are blocked from bringing their weapons to county parks.

She plans to add an item to the commission's agenda Sept. 28 to ban handguns in all county parks.

"The bottom line is we need our parks to be as safe as possible," Broyles said. "Allowing individuals to carry guns doesn't do anything to make our parks safe..."

Snark:
Group Wants to Give Guns Voting Rights
"Stop treating firearms like second-class citizens," says leader of gun advocacy group

From APB reports. KNOXVILLE - A Knox County Commissioner wants to allow guns in parks, at football games and even in commission meetings, but a group originally organized to promote "gun art" says Commissioner Amy Broyles' proposal doesn't go far enough.

Broyles says gun unenthusiasts will be safer if they realize that other people are carrying guns everywhere, including parks, football stadiums and government buildings. She plans to add an item to the commission's agenda Sept. 28 to require handguns to go wherever gun enthusiasts go.

"The bottom line is, guns are carried everywhere, and if we can't beat them, we might as well enjoin them," Broyles said. "Allowing individuals to carry guns doesn't do anything to make our parks, government offices or recreational facilities any safer, but by recognizing they are there, we can take proper measures to deal with the situation - like introducing a fall line of fashion flack jacket and bullet-proof vest ensembles."

But Will Popakapeneu, spokesperson for Gunners United in Artful Respect for and Defense of Depictions of an Oeuvre with Guns (GUARDDOG), which first came together to advocate for government-sanctioned gun-art installations in public places, says Broyles' proposal is not enough.

"GUARDDOG believes any measure short of full recognition of guns' rights is insufficient," said Popakapeneu. "It's time for guns to be recognized for all their contributions to this great nation. Whether you realize it or not, America was built on the blood, threat and fears of firearms. Guns must be given the suffrage - no, that's not right, guns have earned the suffrage, they have earned the right to vote. It's time to stop treating firearms like second-class citizens..."

BTW, I think this is pretty much dead at Council. Barbara Pelot has changed her mind, and Hultquist is moving toward the "leave things as is" side.

I predict a 7-2 vote for keep things as is (i.e., no guns in parks) at the 9/22 meeting (maybe 5-4 if a couple of people vote "yes" on first reading just to keep the discussion opens. That happens sometimes, but it also happens that they can read tea leaves and not want to be on the losing side.)

So, if Steve Hall is given to this much grandstanding and time wasting on City Council, how much more could we expect from him in the State House?

The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present.
President Abraham Lincoln 1862