| City delays vote on fireworks ban |
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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
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Posted: Friday, October 24, 2008 10:09 am
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Murfreesboro City Council deferred making a decision on banning certain fireworks because of the absence of two councilmen.
Vice Mayor Chris Bratcher and Councilman Tobey Gilley were absent from the regular Thursday night meeting.
Mayor Tommy Bragg and Councilmen Shane McFarland and Ron Washington voted to defer with David Edwards and Doug Young dissenting.
The proposed ban on mortar-type, reloadable shells stems from recent incidents with police officers and one city councilman.
Should the ordinance pass when it comes before the council, the fireworks selling season will be reduced by one day – going from June 27- July 5 and Dec. 25-Jan. 2 to June 28-July 5 and Dec. 26-Jan.2 – and the sell and possession of mortar-type shells will be banned outright.
Edwards, who was hit by mortar shrapnel over the summer, said in a previous interview the way the law is written buying mortar shells outside of town and bringing them here would be illegal, because possession of mortars is also banned along with selling the shells.
Edwards also cited recent incidents with a police officer in Columbia this summer and another involving two Murfreesboro Police Officers last summer.
The Murfreesboro incident led Police Chief Glenn Chrisman to request a ban on virtually all fireworks in May. The council decided to take a closer look at the issue at the time and declined making a decision.
Edwards said it was these incidents and not the recent fire at Fireworks Supermarket that prompted the proposed ban on mortar shells.
Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.
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