City: Park Your Gun Elsewhere

Bucking the recent trend of laws that basically ask, "Why shouldn't we have guns here?" yesterday evening by a two-to-one margin the city decided not to overturn its longstanding ban on the legal carry of firearms in parks. The vote came after months of speculation and organizing by both proponents and opponents of the recent state law, and serves as a rebuke to area guns-anywhere advocates.

On Monday, Knox County will vote on a measure but in the opposite direction -- whether to institute a ban rather than remove one.  Since Sept. 1, guns have been allowed in county parks, but the the county's Parks and Recreation Department has recommended a prohibition be put in place. 
In the News-Sentinel article,  Councilman and notable gun enthusiast Greg "Lumpy" Lambert vowed that the county vote will not go the way of the city's:

"I believe this will pass on the commission," said Lambert, a carry permit holder who's drawn his gun on two murder suspects. "I think tonight was sad. We (gun owners) are an organized group, and we will not forget those who voted against us or those who didn't stand up for us."

Also interesting is what Mayor Bill Haslam's support of the vote outcome might do for his gubernatorial primary prospects.  Recently, Lambert has been pushing for Haslam to take a position one way or another. In a very narrow sense, you could say Lambert got what he wanted.