Faced with what they believe is a hard decision, the City-County Council's Parks & Recreation Committee blinked: the motion to make it legal for permit-holders to carry their guns in city parks has been tabled.
The Usual Concerned-Citizen Quotes have been dredged up by the media, even as they tapdance around the fact that Indianapolis city parks can be dangerous and that criminals are not deterred from carrying and using weapons by a sign quoting a city ordinance; nor do they mention that (just as in National and Indiana State Parks), it's still illegal to shoot (other than in self-defense); you still own every bullet and everything it touches. Nope, what we get are quotes from nitwits who say, "If I saw a gun on someone's hip and they weren't in a police uniform, I'd be scared." --I'm sure IMPD's detectives thank you, ma'am and I do wonder how you behave when you see a citizen open-carrying outside of city parks? Shriek and scurry?
It's been legal to carry your weapon in Indiana State parks since 2006; note that bloodbaths have not ensued.
The more I think about it, the more I wonder; y'see, city parks are, generally, in the city and a large proportion of park visitors are African-American. Could it be our esteemed Mayor and Council are frettin' 'cos there might be black folks with guns in the parks? Hellooo? If a citizen passes the background check, that pink card that says License To Carry Handgun is the only color the City need notice.
What needs to happen is for the General Assembly to revoke Indy's grandfathered protection from state preemption. Then this kind of thing would be off the table permanently, but in our favor.
ReplyDeletewv: ratical. Square root of a liberal, e.g., ratical Øbama.
I finally got around to reading the article in this morning's fishwrap, and I boggled at Lincoln Plowman's "it's for the chirrins" comment.
ReplyDeleteSo, Lincoln, let me get this straight. Are you saying that if I live next door to a school, that I should not be allowed to have firearms in my home? I mean, I honestly don't see the difference between legal firearms in a home near a school and legal firearms in a park near a school. In both cases the firearms are there for the purpose of self-defense, a right that is guaranteed by both the U.S. Constitution and the Indiana Constitution. Apparently Lincoln flunked his government class in high school, because he doesn't seem to understand this.
Poor politicians make poor arguments. Hopefully poor Lincoln's ill-served constituents will consider diselecting him when the time comes, and choosing instead someone who knows how to argue more convincingly.
Try, try again.
ReplyDeleteIt will be back.
Mr. Irwin needs to read the Indianapolis Star about all the attacks on the Monon Trail.
Shootin' Buddy
Well, I doubt that the anti-gunners opposition to guns in parks is ENTIRELY racial.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Miss X, I am reasonably certain none of them would hang out in a place like - arrlmiss.org - this, where those of a less than a pale pink hue are welcome. And welcomed.
While most of the shooting community would be right at home there. And next door at the gun show, as well.
The handsome dude on the right is Britt Brown, by the way. Deputy, and all 'round good guy.
Stranger