Tennessee Gov. Bill HaslamNASHVILLE -- Despite reservations, Gov. Bill Haslam today signed into law legislation that strips city and county governments of their ability to ban handgun-carry permit holders from carrying their weapons in local parks, playgrounds and ball fields, including ones next to schools.
Haslam, who has opposed overriding local governments' ability to regulate parks since he was Knoxville's mayor, said in a letter to legislative leaders that the bill's final version is a "vast improvement" over how it started.
Haslam also said in his letter that "I think it is critical that we work together with local leaders to assess the impact" of the law.
While acknowledging he had concerns about the bill, Haslam said he thinks the House and Senate "made clear that guns are not allowed at school-related activities taking place in parks."
"However," Haslam noted, "I am concerned that an unintended consequence may be operational challenges for local leaders in managing their parks in a safe, effective and consistent manner, due to events and situations that could not have been anticipated in drafting this law."
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