MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, July 10, 2009 1:05 pm

Murfreesboro joined the growing list of cities that will not allow guns in any municipal parks.

The city council voted Thursday night to opt out of a state law that allows carry-permit holders to bring handguns into state, county and city parks.

“I think our nature trails, our parks, our natural areas, our greenways are safe. …” City Mayor Tommy Bragg said. “(These are) not areas people would go if they thought they needed a firearm with them.”

And a majority of the council agreed and passed a resolution to opt out of the state law in a 6-1, with Councilman Toby Gilley as the only dissenting vote.

Gilley did try to reach a compromise with the council by allowing handguns in certain areas, like rural and secluded trails – of city parks.

“I’m against a blanket ban but if the council was willing I’d support and partial ban,” Gilley said.

But City Attorney Susan McGannon said the way the law is written, it’s an all or nothing ban.

“I do not believe the state law as written would allow an event ban … (or) activity specific (ban),” she said, adding the council could go ahead and opt out of the law to revisit the issue at a later date after Tennessee Attorney General has been consulted.

Councilman Shane McFarland said he is against a partial ban in certain places because the issue can get complicated quickly.

Using Patterson Park Community Center as an example, McFarland said the center was designed with a “campus concept” and shares a parking lot with Bradley Elementary and Holloway High schools.

He was concerned about carry-permit holders bringing handguns onto what is technically school property to transport the weapon into the community center.

In the end, the city council agreed with McFarland and opted out of the state law.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.