TN: Editorial: Guns in parks and kids' sports

[Guest GLOCKGUY]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/jun/14/editorials-guns-in-parks-and-kids-sports/?partner=yahoo_feeds

Editorial: Guns in parks and kids' sports

The incident between an angry father and a youth baseball coach shows why allowing even 'law-abiding' citizens to carry guns in parks is dangerous.

Posted June 14, 2010 at 12:06 a.m.

A heated argument and scuffle at a Bartlett baseball complex June 5 should prompt Bartlett's elected officials to show some backbone and vote on whether guns should be allowed in the city's parks.

Nicholis Williams, 29, was charged with pointing a gun at a youth baseball coach in a dispute over his son's playing time. Williams, who had a valid handgun carry permit, is one of those law-abiding citizens the General Assembly and gun rights supporters feel should be able to take their handguns anywhere they want, including Little League sporting events, bars and parks.

Data Center: Search handgun-carry permits

Flareups between coaches and players' parents or between parents and umpires occur occasionally. In most instances, words are exchanged. Once in a while, someone throws a punch. But the incident involving Williams and the coach should be an alarming wake-up call about what can happen when emotions explode and a handgun is handy.

Police said that after a harsh, name-calling verbal exchange, Williams pointed a pistol at Joseph Powell. The two wrestled over the gun, which could have gone off, striking one of the kids or other bystanders.

Sure, the likelihood of such incidents is rare, but is the possibility of someone being killed intentionally or accidentally by an out-of-control, law-abiding gun toter worth the risk?

We've never argued against anyone being able to legally carry a weapon. What we have stressed is that people shouldn't be able to carry weapons into establishments that serve alcohol or in places where children and families congregate.

Last year, the Memphis City Council, the Shelby County Commission and Germantown's Board of Mayor and Aldermen recognized the potential danger and voted to keep a ban on firearms in their parks, by opting out of a 2009 state law that allows carry permit holders to take their handguns into city or county parks unless local governments specifically prohibit it. Collierville's Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to allow guns in their parks. The boards of mayor and aldermen in Bartlett and Millington decided not to put the issue to a vote.

Bartlett has a huge youth sports venue. In light of the June 5 incident, citizens should demand that the mayor and aldermen show some mettle and vote on whether they want people carrying guns in their city parks.

Alderwoman Emily Elliott made her position clear last year, saying it was a bad idea. She took a lot of heat for her stance. Others on the board shouldn't be afraid to put their opinions on the record with a vote, either.

(Comments block at the bottom of the page)

Edited June 14, 2010 by GLOCKGUY

[Volzfan]

Thanks Nicholis Williams! What an ambassador you are for all TN HCP holders across the state and country for that matter! Any one know him? He needs his @$$ kicked.

[Guest Knightsr25]

The commercial appeal has always been outspoken on antigun issues . It is as dirty a rag as the city of memphis . The bright spot of memphis is Guns&Ammo [especially their summer ave. store] .

[Chucktshoes]

The commercial appeal has always been outspoken on antigun issues . It is as dirty a rag as the city of memphis . The bright spot of memphis is Guns&Ammo [especially their summer ave. store] .

LOL While I agree with your statement about the commie appeal, you are a bit off the mark re: Guns & a**holes. There may not be any bigger gun shops in Memphis, but there are much better.

[Guest GLOCKGUY]

Looks like the coach came out to the guys car and keep the fight going..

Dad in alleged row at youth baseball event out on bond

A 29-year-old father charged with pointing a gun at a youth baseball coach in a dispute over his son's playing time was released on a $20,000 bond Friday after appearing in Bartlett Municipal Court.

Nicholis Williams of Memphis surrendered to authorities about 11:15 p.m. Thursday. Williams faces a charge of aggravated assault in connection with the case.

Bartlett Municipal Judge Freeman Marr set Williams' bond at $20,000 after the father appeared briefly in court. Williams waived his preliminary hearing and was ordered held for the action of the Shelby County Grand Jury. He posted the bond and was released shortly after his court appearance. He did not comment as he left the Bartlett Jail.

Williams was attending his 10-year-old son's baseball game at the fields adjacent to Shadowlawn Middle School last Saturday afternoon when, according to police reports, he began arguing and cursing over his son not getting as many at-bats as other players.

League and team officials asked Williams to leave the field. He was sitting in his car in the parking lot after the game when one of the coaches -- Joseph Powell, 21 -- approached him to ask Williams not to curse in front of the children.

Another argument ensued between the pair and Williams is accused of pulling a gun from under the floor mat and pointing the loaded weapon at Powell. During a struggle, the gun was knocked from Williams' hand to the ground.

Williams drove away from the park with the weapon -- placed back in the car by another witness. Bartlett police issued a warrant for Williams' arrest earlier this week.

Mike Browning, director of public affairs for the state Department of Safety, confirmed Thursday afternoon that state records show Williams has a valid handgun carry permit. However, Browning said that since aggravated assault is a felony, Williams' permit could be suspended pending the outcome of the charges. If he is convicted, the state will revoke the permit, Browning said.

--Clay Bailey: 529-2393

[Guest jackdm3]

"LOL While I agree with your statement about the commie appeal, you are a bit off the mark re: Guns & a**holes. There may not be any bigger gun shops in Memphis, but there are much better."

That!

[mikegideon]

Looks like the coach came out to the guys car and keep the fight going..

Dad in alleged row at youth baseball event out on bond

A 29-year-old father charged with pointing a gun at a youth baseball coach in a dispute over his son's playing time was released on a $20,000 bond Friday after appearing in Bartlett Municipal Court.

Nicholis Williams of Memphis surrendered to authorities about 11:15 p.m. Thursday. Williams faces a charge of aggravated assault in connection with the case.

Bartlett Municipal Judge Freeman Marr set Williams' bond at $20,000 after the father appeared briefly in court. Williams waived his preliminary hearing and was ordered held for the action of the Shelby County Grand Jury. He posted the bond and was released shortly after his court appearance. He did not comment as he left the Bartlett Jail.

Williams was attending his 10-year-old son's baseball game at the fields adjacent to Shadowlawn Middle School last Saturday afternoon when, according to police reports, he began arguing and cursing over his son not getting as many at-bats as other players.

League and team officials asked Williams to leave the field. He was sitting in his car in the parking lot after the game when one of the coaches -- Joseph Powell, 21 -- approached him to ask Williams not to curse in front of the children.

Another argument ensued between the pair and Williams is accused of pulling a gun from under the floor mat and pointing the loaded weapon at Powell. During a struggle, the gun was knocked from Williams' hand to the ground.

Williams drove away from the park with the weapon -- placed back in the car by another witness. Bartlett police issued a warrant for Williams' arrest earlier this week.

Mike Browning, director of public affairs for the state Department of Safety, confirmed Thursday afternoon that state records show Williams has a valid handgun carry permit. However, Browning said that since aggravated assault is a felony, Williams' permit could be suspended pending the outcome of the charges. If he is convicted, the state will revoke the permit, Browning said.

--Clay Bailey: 529-2393

Even so, the guy is a total dumbass for pointing his weapon. No wonder he has a dent in his forehead.

[Oh Shoot]

So Bartlett actually allows park carry?

- OS

[Guest jackdm3]

They dragged the decision out, and it passed on its own without sufficient opposition, I think. They and Collierville do some things correctly. kb4ns should be able to tell us the full score.

[Chucktshoes]

So Bartlett actually allows park carry?

- OS

Well, for the time being. That's why if I want to go to a park my choices are Bartlett or Collierville. The only two municipalities in the Metro area that allow park carry.

[Guest 270win]

Bartlett, Collierville, Millington, Lakeland, and Arlington decided to let state law cover parks and not pass a city ordinance restricting handgun carry by those with permits in parks.

Germantown does have the 'proper' 39-17-1311 signs.

[macville]

Okay, so ONE incident in a year happens and suddenly we need stop carry there. I guess by the same resolve we should ban alcohol after one person does a DUI or anything else horrible under the influence. I mean, those aren't law abiding citizens either...

[Smith]

We've never argued against anyone being able to legally carry a weapon. What we have stressed is that people shouldn't be able to carry weapons into establishments that serve alcohol or in places where children and families congregate.

So they have always supported HCP.... except where families and children congregate and places that serve alcohol. That leaves where exactly? The no alcohol allowed strip club? Seriously I can't think of one place I go that doesn't meet one or both of his criteria. Do they even proofread for content? Edited June 15, 2010 by Smith

[tnhawk]

:rolleyes:Maybe we should stop baseball in city parks

[Capbyrd]

"LOL While I agree with your statement about the commie appeal, you are a bit off the mark re: Guns & a**holes. There may not be any bigger gun shops in Memphis, but there are much better."

That!

Thirded!

[tnhawk]

LOL While I agree with your statement about the commie appeal, you are a bit off the mark re: Guns & a**holes. There may not be any bigger gun shops in Memphis, but there are much better.

As a frequent customer at Guns & Ammo, I've found them helpful and polite. I can't make those comments about the newspaper!

[eapking]

Okay, so ONE incident in a year happens and suddenly we need stop carry there. I guess by the same resolve we should ban alcohol after one person does a DUI or anything else horrible under the influence. I mean, those aren't law abiding citizens either...

Yep, that's how the anti's operate. One incident and it's open season for the "ban 'em" crowd. Thank God there were no rounds fired or this would have been front page news on the CA for the last 2 weeks.