Bill HaslamNASHVILLE - Gov. Bill Haslam says he has "major concerns" about a measure supported by fellow Republicans in the Legislature seeking to do away with local government's power to decide whether to allow firearms in public parks.
The Legislature in 2009 gave city and county governments the ability to opt out of a new law that allowed people with handgun carry permits to be armed in public parks, playgrounds and sports fields.
A bill sponsored by Sen. Stacey Campfield of Knoxville that would do away with local control over guns has drawn the support of fellow Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville.
When Haslam was Knoxville mayor, he supported a 2009 city council vote that kept in place a ban on handguns in city parks, playgrounds and sports fields.