Tonight's the night

[Deleted]

Tuesday, 07/07/2009, 7 p.m. Red Bank city commission meeting.

[Deleted]

It went well, much better than I had expected.

I'll write more later (maybe tomorrow morning), but the resolution did not pass tonight. It was deferred until the next meeting.

The resolution reads, "Resolution No. 09-742 - a resolution to prohibit handguns in public municipal parks, natural areas, historic parks, nature trails, campgrounds, city owned ballfields, forests, greenways, waterways, or other similar public places."

That sounds a little different than just "parks", doesn't it?

I am so pleased that four of the five Red Bank city commissioners decided to take a little more time to study the issue. It took guts to do that, especially considering that at the previous meeting, a vote to pass such a resolution appeared to be unanimous.

[joedog]

Campgrounds???
Where is there a camping area in Red Bank?

[Warkitty]

Every time I see this thread title, well this is what starts in my head....

[mikeydokey]

This is what I keep coming up with

[Deleted]

"Every time I see this thread title, well this is what starts in my head...."

"Embedding disabled by request."

You trying to tell me something, WK?

[Deleted]

So let's talk about tonight's Red Bank city commission meeting.

First, I was surprised to see no other forumites.

Second, I was surprised I didn't get frisked. Just not my lucky night, I reckon. See post above too.

The no-guns-in-parks resolution was number two of three to be discussed on the agenda. I felt vibes from el mayor when it came time for the commissioners to discuss the issue. Mayor Glasscock tried to ram the resolution through as quickly as possible. His flow, however, was interrupted by some discussion over posting appropriately sized and worded signs. Burble, bubble, toil and trouble. At that point, commissioner Greg Jones, the newbie, said he would like more time to research the issue and made some other comments that I feel sure the mayor did not want to hear. Glasscock made efforts to keep that delay from happening with such tactics as saying Jones would have to have a second to a motion to delay - and saying it in a way that some people might interpret as "Don't you dare". It didn't work. When it was said and done, and when Glasscock called for a roll call vote (meaning one person at a time votes), Jones, Jeno, Millard and Pierce all voted to delay until the next meeting. Thank goodness! That meant that I could say my piece and have a chance to influence the outcome.

The last resolution of the evening was handled and then the floor turned over to Citizens' Comments. There were three of us. The first speaker presented a problem and then praised her new EPB connection and service. I couldn't hear a word the second person said. Then I said what I had to say. Thanks HEAPS to Oleg and forumites for ideas so I could (try to) come across as a reasonable person with reasonable arguments for my position. Thanks also to Goomba for providing the link to Oleg's work.

After the meeting was adjourned, a couple of people (one a commissioner) told me they were leery of guns just as they were leery of electricity and snakes. I understand. I really do. I hope to encourage them and others to take the safety course or at least to learn more about weaponry so they can get over the knee-jerk reactions some people have.

<paranoia on>Assuming the vote to delay wasn't just some kind of ploy, <paranoia off> I'm rather pleased with the way the meeting went, and I'm proud of 80% of Red Bank's commissioners.

[goomba]

good work yoda.

[LimitedRecourse]

Did you tell them how "leery" WE are of politicians?

[gridbug]

But since this is Red Bank the question must be asked - will they allow guns in churches?

[Deleted]

This evening, Tuesday, 07/21/2009, four of the five Red Bank city commissioners voted no on the proposed resolution to ban guns in parks and a lot of other places.

When prompted (asked), the chief of police said he thought there is still a ban on guns within 1,500 feet of schools.

[goomba]

Jul 21, 2009 20:19:06 GMT -5 @yodanbr2 said:

This evening, Tuesday, 07/21/2009, four of the five Red Bank city commissioners voted no on the proposed resolution to ban guns in parks and a lot of other places.

When prompted (asked), the chief of police said he thought there is still a ban on guns within 1,500 feet of schools.

good news.

I'd make the chief confirm the ban on weapons within 1500ft.... I've never heard of that.

[Deleted]

WRCB-TV3's Jenna McKee & photog did a very nice job of reporting the events. She wrote the kind of story that helped convey some of the emotion of the meeting as well as just telling the results. Attagirl, Jenna.

I do, however, wish "the media" would quit calling it a "guns in parks" deal. There's more to it than that. How about something like a "rights retention" law?

The mayor said he didn't understand why it was such a big deal now because it's been illegal in Tennessee for a long time to carry in parks, so why the fuss now? I guess he missed the part about the state finally recognizing and correcting their error just recently. The mayor also pointed out that Red Bank has laws against shooting inside the city limits, so why would anyone want a gun? The answer, of course, is that someone might want a gun in case he or she ever has to use it - not just to fire off a round every now and then. We are taught in the gun safety class that we are responsible for the bullet when it leaves our gun and that it's a huge responsibility. I know I can't afford to pull the trigger except to protect my or spouse's life.

For the record, here's Red Bank's relevant code although I didn't see what the penalty is for breaking the law:

11-601. Air rifles, etc. It shall be unlawful for any person in the
municipality to discharge any air gun, air pistol, air rifle, "BB" gun, or sling shot
capable of discharging a metal bullet or pellet, whether propelled by spring,
compressed air, expanding gas, explosive, or other force-producing means or
method. (1975 Code, § 10-213)
11-602. Throwing missiles. It shall be unlawful for any person
maliciously to throw any stone, snowball, bottle, or any other missile upon or at
any vehicle, building, tree, or other public or private property or upon or at any
person. (1975 Code, § 10-214)
11-603. Discharge of firearms. It shall be unlawful for any
unauthorized person to discharge a firearm within the corporate limits. (1975
Code, § 10-212, modified)

All in all, when the vote tally was finished, I was (and am) proud of the four commissioners who voted against the resolution. The first things I thought of when the vote was over were Jefferson's statement about "that government which governs the least governs the best" and Sandra Day O'Connor's statement about local government being the best government. Most of the Red Bank commission lived up to those ideals tonight. I'll give credit to the mayor for, if you'll pardon the expression, sticking to his guns about the issue even though I felt and feel he's wrong. At least he was consistent.

I'm also proud that the commission took the somewhat unusual step of opening up the issue for discussion by citizens before the vote was taken. Good move, people. Very good move.

Then the commission moved on to other issues for the city, stuff that needs to be done but which would bore me to tears. In other words, better they than I. But then, that's why they "get paid the big bucks".

[goomba]

most cities (large or small) have the law that you cannot discharge a firearm within city limits. I am going to go on the assumption that these laws were meant to keep someone from doing target practice in their back yard.

all in all, this is a good thing for red bank to do. wish I had seen the news about it. and even better that the city council opened this up for citizen comments....which should be standard for any issue before it is voted on.

good work Red Bank, now if only chattanooga and hamilton county would have been half as resonable.

[Justin Thyme]

11-601. Air rifles, etc. It shall be unlawful for any person in themunicipality to discharge any air gun, air pistol, air rifle, "BB" gun, or sling shotcapable of discharging a metal bullet or pellet, whether propelled by spring,compressed air, expanding gas, explosive, or other force-producing means ormethod.

So BB gun fights are illegal in Red Bank. I'm very guilty of breaking that ordinance... even after 1975

(1975 Code, § 10-213)11-602. Throwing missiles. It shall be unlawful for any person maliciously to throw any stone, snowball, bottle, or any other missile upon or at any vehicle, building, tree, or other public or private property or upon or at anyperson. (1975 Code, § 10-214)

Snowball fights are also illegal? Everybody in Red Bank is now a criminal.

[Deleted]

> Everybody in Red Bank is now a criminal.

Bingo!


It's not as bad as it used to be, though. It wasn't all that long ago that there was a statute on Red Bank's books that said that all able-bodied men within a certain age range had to volunteer x amount of time each year for road maintenance.

[Justin Thyme]

I lived in Red Bank from 1955 until 1986. I never volunteered to maintain the roads. My father lived in Red Bank from 1950 until 2007. I don't reckon he ever volunteered to maintain the roads. I have fired pistols, rifles and shotguns all inside the city limits of Red Bank. I have shot BB guns and pellet guns, thrown rocks and snowballs. Nothing was ever said or done about any of it.

Well, there was that time that I didn't realize the backstop to the target I was shooting at with a pellet gun was a neighbors window.

[Tsavodiner]

Mayor Glasscock tried to ram the resolution through as quickly as possible. His flow, however, was interrupted

It's really, REALLY 'hard' to ram anything through a 'glass'cock'.

Sorry, I just HAD to....

[Deleted]

I just heard on WRCB-TV3 that Soddy-Daisy also joined the ranks of those protecting our second amendment rights re carrying.

Thank you, SD commissioners, for thinking through the situation.

[goomba]

agreed, and now it will be coming up again in east ridge.

[cadillacdude1975]

so that is what.....3 places around here that we know about? Dead Bank, Soddy and Dade County?