NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Democrats in the Tennessee General Assembly are urging the reconsideration of a new state law that allows people with handgun carry permits to be armed in all state parks, even if those facilities are rented out by private operators.
At a roundtable hosted by Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris of Memphis and Nashville state Rep. John Ray Clemmons on Thursday, several speakers voiced concerns about the law that stripped local governments of the power to ban all firearms in parks.
James Bolden, a retired director of police services in Memphis, and Franklin County Sherriff Tim Fuller noted the negative publicity surrounding recent police shootings that occurred despite the heavy training law enforcement officers receive. They say civilians with handgun permits are more likely to make poor decisions in using weapons.