Alexandria City Police Chief suggests Firearms ban on city property

[Guest jth_3s]

Alexandria city police chief suggests banning firearms at the fair and possibly other city property.

Although he is a strong believer in the lawful rights of gun owners, an incident at the DeKalb County Fair last week convinced Alexandria Police Chief Mark Collins that handguns should be banned during the fair.

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During Tuesday night's city council meeting, Chief Collins asked that the Alexandria aldermen adopt an ordinance making possession of handguns illegal at the DeKalb County Fair. Although the fairgrounds are leased and operated by the DeKalb County Fair Association, the property belongs to the City of Alexandria.

The cause for concern arose last Monday night when a patron at the fair reported losing his handgun from the holster he was wearing while on one of the carnival rides. Chief Collins said some of the rides were shut down for a short period of time as members of the Alexandria Police Department, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department, carnival workers, and fair association volunteers searched for the weapon.

Chief Collins said he was fearful that the gun might have been picked up by a teenager or a small child.

It turns out that the man had not even brought the gun to the fair in the first place. During the search at the fairgrounds, Chief Collins asked the man to return home just to make sure he had not left the gun there. While conducting a search at home, the man found his gun.

The aldermen plan to honor Chief Collins' request but have deferred action until the next meeting in August when an ordinance can be prepared and presented by City Attorney Vester Parsley, Jr. The ordinance may also ban handguns at other events on city properties.

City of Alexandria to Consider Banning Handguns at the DeKalb County Fair | WJLE

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[Guest mrl4ng]

Wow. I bet that guy felt like a jackass when he realized he left it at home...

[daddyo]

It's OK. I called Chief Collins and told him that I found it before anyone else did, so no one was harmed.

Everything is OK now.

[Guest nicemac]

I am sorry. How do you just forget you left your gun at home and set in motion a shutdown of a county fair looking for it? I tend to know if I am carrying or not.

I wonder if alcohol was involved?

[bigwakes]

Who puts their holster on and forgets to put a gun in it?

[G27]

That police chief is an idiot.

Anyone who thinks they are a 'strong believer in the lawful rights of gun owners' but wants to ban lawful carrying is stupid. Especially based on something that DIDN'T happen...

[Guest jth_3s]

No doubt the guy carrying made a mistake, but what the chief is doing is intentional. He sees this issue from a LEO perspective, common people aren't responsible enough to carry guns so we're not going to let them carry on city property. He and his cohorts will still be able to carry at the fair and defend themselves if need be. He is for gun rights for himself and no one else.

[RobertNashville]

That police chief is an idiot.

Anyone who thinks they are a 'strong believer in the lawful rights of gun owners' but wants to ban lawful carrying is stupid. Especially based on something that DIDN'T happen...

You took the words right out of my mouth!

[Guest CarmenT]

Yesterday on a Facebook thread about this story (WSMV's page) a woman who works as a clerk at the traffic court there (Alexandria) came on to say that LE she works with told her to post the older TCA on the subject of guns at public parks and similar venues. Said it was illegal to carry there anyway. Politely but firmly I pointed out the 2009 changes to the law. It's shocking to me that some LE still thought it was illegal to do.

[Reservoir Dog]

Who puts their holster on and forgets to put a gun in it?

It happens. I have done it a couple of times in my haste getting ready for work, only to realize it when I am halfway there. No worries for me, as I carry a spare Glock in the trunk of my car.

[Guest nicemac]

I keep my guns in their holsters in my safe. They go on together.

[JAB]

That police chief is an idiot.

Anyone who thinks they are a 'strong believer in the lawful rights of gun owners' but wants to ban lawful carrying is stupid. Especially based on something that DIDN'T happen...

This. Exactly this - especially the part I 'bolded'.

It's like saying, "I firmly believe that people have the right to eat ice cream but a recent incident has convinced me that we should ban dairy cows."

Edited July 29, 2011 by JAB

[R_Bert]

I am sorry. How do you just forget you left your gun at home and set in motion a shutdown of a county fair looking for it? I tend to know if I am carrying or not.

I wonder if alcohol was involved?

Sans alcohol, I have worn a empty holster all day. It's a small IWB for my NAA mini, and was already clipped in the set of cargo shorts from the previous day.

End of the day, I went to put the gun up, and it was already in the safe!

Edited July 29, 2011 by R_Bert

[vontar]

Making a second mistake to fix another mistake does not fix anything.

[sargedog1]

Wow! how comfortable was this guy's conceal carry that he didn't realize it was there? I have only large guns I carry maybe I need a smaller gun.