http://www.whas11.com/news/Local-gun-ordinances-null-and-void-after-state-revision-188510981.html Local gun ordinances null and void after state revision by Brittany Gonzalez WHAS11.com Posted on January 26, 2013 at 8:47 PM
Updated yesterday at 10:39 PM Related:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – Louisville’s efforts to ban weapons at public places such as parks, zoos, and libraries became null and void when new legislation says firearms can only be regulated at the state level.
The resolution went into effect in July 2012, but city officials had 6 months to try and appeal the change and now that deadline has passed. At the last Louisville City Council meeting an ordinance had to be sponsored to change all current city ordinances that ban firearms in city owned facilities.
“The state mandated that we drop out of all our ordinances and policies [any] idea that we are trying to regulate handguns,” Councilwoman Madonna Flood said.
Flood said she feels as if this decision was forced on city leaders all across the state.
“The whole idea flies in the face of common sense…the idea that you should be able to carry a gun to work just simply because you are a city employee that makes no sense at all. Why do you need a gun in a library? Why do you need a gun at the zoo? And why do you need to carry a gun at work,” Flood said.
Thomas Packer, a college student, said he doesn’t feel safer knowing firearms can be carried into places like the library.
“I want to go to the library to read and get knowledge, but if people are packing guns it doesn’t seem very safe to me.”
CEO of Openrange Indoor Paintball & Gun Range, Barry Laws, believes the new clarification will help people understand basic gun owner rights.
“It's like you probably have car insurance. You probably have health insurance. This is my personal protection insurance, and I just think the clarification makes everybody feel more comfortable,” Laws said.
Councilwoman Flood tells WHAS11 Metro Council is looking at what possible legal action can be taken against the resolution since city leaders do not have a choice when it come to enforcing this new change.