Local jurisdictions could have used Haslam’s support

We wish Gov. Bill Haslam had not affixed his signature to a bill that prevents local governments in Tennessee from barring people with handgun-carry permits from bringing firearms to parks, playgrounds and sports fields.

We realize there were more than enough votes in the House and Senate to override a veto. Yet, letting the bill become law without his signature would have been a show of support for the right of local governments to decide what safety measures are best for their residents — especially since Haslam, a former mayor of Knoxville, said he had concerns about the bill.

The governor, who began his second and — because of term limits — last four-year term in January, said he remains concerned about potential unintended consequences for local leaders, but called the final version of the legislation a vast improvement from when it was first introduced.

The final version of the bill made it clearer that guns are not allowed at school-related activities taking place in parks, Haslam said in a letter to House Speaker Beth Harwell and Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey.

We concur with critics, however, that the bill’s language is fuzzy because it bans guns “within the immediate vicinity” of school activities, yet it does not specifically define “vicinity.” And the law does not carry exemptions for playgrounds, greenways or ball fields where no school activities are taking place.

What is rational about someone, law-abiding or not, carrying a firearm any where near where a school sporting event is taking place?

And, why in heck would local governments or parents want an armed person in a place where children are playing?

We have no argument with the right of a person to go armed if he or she meets the training and background requirements to obtain a gun-carry permit. Still, there are just some places where there should be exceptions to that rule.

From a safety standpoint, local governments should have the right to make parks and the vicinity of sporting events an exception.

They had that right until the Republican-dominated General Assembly took it away this legislative session.

So, a gun-carry permit holder can carry a firearm near a Little League baseball game, but the legislature squashed an amendment to the guns-in-parks bill that would have allowed permit holders to carry their weapons on the Capitol grounds. That’s hypocrisy at its worst. Also, the fact that the bill’s supporters unsuccessfully tried to have it the official state law before the National Rifle Association’s annual convention in Nashville earlier this month should have Tennesseans questioning who their state representatives and senators really are working for — them or an organization that makes a lot of campaign contributions to lawmakers?