Chattanooga Pulse

At the urging of Parks & Recreation director Larry Zinder, the Chattanooga City Council on Tuesday evening unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming a prior city ordinance that forbids anyone other than a law enforcement officer to carry a firearm in a city park.

The request came in response to a new state law that would allow people with a state carry permit to have a firearm in a park.  The Hamilton County Commission is set to debate the issue themselves Wednesday in their regular session in regards to county parks, and Zinder wanted the council to send a clear message to their county colleagues.

Councilwoman Carol Berz was quick to agree with the resolution. “We don’t want guns of an size or type in our city parks,” she said during the meeting.  “We need to go on record that we are against guns in our parks.”

Councilman Peter Murphy, who chairs the Legal & Legislative committee, has asked the City Attorney to have his staff look into the new state law and make certain that the current city prohibition against firearms passes legal muster.  If not, he said he would draft a new resolution that would be in line with state law.

Council Chairman Jack Benson expressed concern that a new resolution might have be passed in time to coincide with the start of the state law on July 1st, but was assured by interim City Attorney Michael McMahan that if necessary the city could declare an emergency resolution, which would take effect immediately upon passing.