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Staff Photo by Dan Henry A half-full meeting room listens as William Catoe tries to promote carrying concealed firearms into county parks during during a city council meeting on Tuesday. The vote was 9-0 in favor of the current law prohibiting firearms in parks.
Chattanooga parks will remain gun free after Tuesday night's vote in which the City Council decided against allowing concealed-carry handgun permit holders to bring their pistols to public places.
Council members voted 9-0 after hearing concerns from two Chattanooga residents and one person from Red Bank.
About a dozen gun advocates came to the council meeting and voiced their concerns.
"It's a step back for Second Amendment rights," said Bryon Kordenbrock, an Ooltewah resident, after the vote.
Chattanooga police Chief Freeman Cooper spoke out against letting armed citizens into area parks. He said it would "not be a change" to how the city has conducted business previously.
"We want our children to be safe and not to be in places where people are armed," he said.
Councilman Russell Gilbert said he felt the same way, and he talked about how he had been to ball games in the past and seen people get upset. In some instances, threats of getting a gun were even overheard, he said.
Allowing firearms in those settings could be even worse when people are mad, he said.
"They might do something they regret," Mr. Gilbert said.
The council previously voted 9-0 on a voice vote three weeks ago upholding its present ordinance banning firearms in parks. The bill passed by the Tennessee General Assembly allowing guns in state and local parks specifically stated that a resolution needed to be passed.
William Catoe, a Chattanooga resident and a former U.S. Marine, told council members he said there has been an image problem created making some concealed-carry permit holders look like "wild west gunmen." He said many have military training in addition to the required eight hours of concealed-carry permit training.
He argued allowing gun owners carry rights in parks would make them more safe.
"Policeman can't be everywhere," he said.
WHAT'S HAPPENED
The City Council voted 9-0 against allowing handguns in parks, joining Signal Mountain and Hamilton County. Signal Mountain voted Monday to uphold its ban, while Hamilton County voted three weeks ago on a resolution banning handguns from county parks. The city of East Ridge will take up its own concealed-carry permit ban soon.
Councilwoman Carol Berz later asked Mr. Catoe a direct question.
"Has there ever been a problem with you as the current law exists in Chattanooga?" she asked.
Mr. Catoe said no.
"I've not seen any instances of shootings in the park," he said.
Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government. He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee. A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism. Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) ...
9-0, 9 smart votes!
"We want our children to be safe and not to be in places where people are armed," [Chattanooga police Chief Freeman Cooper] said.
If Cooper feels that way, I guess police should stay away from parks and especially schools. Do we seriously trust this guy to keep us safe?
dl, please let me know which parks you frequent, I may be a thug and since I don't have to worry about libs like you carrying guns or the LAW ABIDING citizen being able to carry his, I might have to rob you to feed my crack addiction. Thank you, mindless city cronies for protecting my life while I rob you, your family and your friends. Please hope that your cop squad might be lucky enuf to be near the scene of the crime cause that is the only way you will catch me.
actually, he's fairly literate for a self-described "thug."
There's nothing quite like fine satire. And this isn't either. But it does illustrate the point that laws stopping legal carry will only stop legal carry. Illegal carry is, was and always will be the dangerout part of this equation the willfully blind will not see.
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