MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 2:12 pm

Spring Fling may have a new home, if Murfreesboro doesn’t take steps to ban guns in parks, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association said.

Last week Murfreesboro’s City Council deferred a vote on a blanket ban keeping carry-permit holders from bringing handguns into city parks.

Mayor Tommy Bragg suggested deferring the vote until the city heard the TSSAA’s position on guns in parks, which the city heard earlier this week.

“They (the TSSAA board) have a zero tolerance policy about guns at their schools,” Bragg explained. “So they went ahead and applied that to sporting events. …That would obviously determine where a safe site for their sporting events would be.”

And, according to the TSSAA, a city park that allows handguns is not a safe environment.

Bragg said, although Spring Fling is important to the city’s economy, there are multiple reasons for backing the guns-in-parks ban.

“In comparing all the events we have in our community, it is important to have a safe and hospitable environment. …” Bragg said. “It’s extremely important to consider all the aspects of the environment that we offer.”

Bragg can understand each side of the argument and understands the rights of those who have handgun-carry permits, but isn’t sure there is any way to compromise the issue.

But for now City Police Chief Glenn Chrisman said MPD will enforce the law as it is written.

"Presently we will follow the legislation passed by the General Assembly, however the city does retain the option to opt out in the future pending discussion by city leaders," Chrisman said.

The question came about after City Manager Roger Haley proposed a city-wide ban in municipal parks after Tennessee’s General Assembly passed a law that allows persons with carry permits to bring handguns in state and city parks legally, as along as the local municipality agrees. The law will go into effect Sept. 1.

The resolution would have prohibited the carrying of guns in municipal parks, natural areas, historic parks, nature trails, campgrounds, forests, greenways, ball fields, golf courses, sport complexes and community recreation centers within the Murfreesboro city limits. The penalty for doing so will be a maximum of a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Bragg said the city already has a gun-in-parks ban on its books, but it may need to officially opt out of the new state law to ensure the ban is legal. The council will probably revisit the issue at its next meeting July 9.

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