April 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 57

Gun-Free Zones: Weighing the Pros and Cons

Pennsylvania municipalities to re-examine or repeal firearm bans
n its face, declaring your parks " gun-free zones " sounds
in parks. In recent years, Quakertown, Bucks County, Chestnuthlike an excellent way to avoid violence. If there are no
ill Township in Monroe County, and Lower Saucon Township in
guns, then there can be no shootings. However, as
Northampton County have all revised their current municipal
advocates of concealed-carry laws will attest, if you make it
statutes regarding guns in parks to comply with the state law.
against the law to have guns in parks, the only people in your
Also earlier this month in Mecklenburg County, North Caroparks with guns will be lawbreakers, leaving law-abiding citilina, county commissioners rejected an amendment to a prozens unable to defend themselves in the event of an attack.
posed county ordinance that would have relaxed some current
Concealed-carry laws allow certain individuals who pass a
restrictions on concealed handguns in Mecklenburg parks. In
background check and usually a training course, with specifics
2011, state legislators passed a law allowing concealed gun
depending on the state, to carry a handgun or other weapon in
permit holders to carry handguns anywhere in parks; howevpublic in a concealed manner. Currently, 49 states have provier, it included provisions that allowed local and county govsions in place to allow concealed carrying to varying degrees-
ernments to restrict weapons in some recreational areas. The
only Illinois and the District of Columbia prohibit the practice in
Mecklenburg amendment, as written, would bar permit holdits entirety. The goal is to arm responsible individuals who, with
ers from carrying concealed weapons only on playgrounds and
proper training, can help neutralize threatening situations in the
on athletic fields, in gyms, and at swimming pools, but only if
critical moments before law enforcement can arrive on scene. In
they are contestants at one of those locations. The county comthe event that a violent individual presents a threat in one of your
mission will revisit the issue on May 7.
parks, it's possible that a concealed-carry permit holder could
It's noteworthy that every mass shooting in the U.S. since
stop an incident before it occurs or gets too far out of hand.
1977, with the exception of the 2011 Tucson shooting that killed
Supporters of gun-free zones argue that the backsix people and severely injured Rep. Gabby Giffords, has hapground-check process isn't effective at screening out potentialpened in a gun-free zone, according to John Lott, Jr., former chief
ly dangerous individuals, sometimes giving mentally unstable
economist for the U.S. Sentencing Commission. However, it's unor just violent people the legal right to bring guns into public
clear whether shooters target such areas as easy prey or are simplaces where they could cause harm.
ply more likely to be stopped in unrestricted areas by those who
In 2010, federal law backed up the laws of individual states
carry concealed weapons. According to the U.S. Government Acin respect to guns in national parks-in essence, if a state's law
countability Office, there are currently more than 8 million conallows guns in public spaces, the federal law mandates that
cealed-carry permit holders in the United States.
those provisions apply to national parks in that state as well
-Danielle Taylor
(See " Political Reversal on National Park Gun Ban, " http://classweb.gmu.edu/jkozlows/lawarts/10OCT09.
Right to Carry in State Parks
pdf ). However, many state, county, and city
A state-by-state guide to lawful concealed carry in state parks, as of June 2012.
parks across the country have instituted a
■ Allowed ■ Prohibited
ban on all guns in their parks, which has
resulted in a number of legal battles over
WA
a permitted citizen's right to carry their fireNH
ME
MT
ND
VT
arms in public parks if allowed by state law
MN
MA
OR
(See " Right to Bear Arms Limited in 'SensiRI
NY
WI
ID
SD
NYC
tive' Public Facilities, " http://classweb.gmu.
WY
MI
CT
PA
edu/jkozlows/lawarts/04APR11.pdf ). OthIA
NJ
NE
NV
OH
DE
ers have imposed certain restrictions but
IN
IL
UT
MD
WV
CO
DC
VA
not blanket prohibitions.
CA
KS
MO
KY
Earlier this month, Philadelphia Mayor
NC
TN
OK
Michael Nutter signed a bill banning guns
AZ
SC
AR
NM
at city playgrounds and recreation centers,
GA
MS AL
citing the 50-plus shootings in these areas
LA
TX
since 2010. However, the ban may be shortAK
lived, as an existing state law makes it illegal
FL
for any county, municipality, or township in
GUAM
PUERTO RICO
Pennsylvania to regulate an individual's posUS VIRGIN ISLANDS
session of firearms. Newfound awareness of
the state law has caused a number of other
HI

Source: www.ammoland.com

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April 2013 - Parks & Recreation

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