2016-0346
INTRODUCED BY: PAUL J, HOGAN, PE, COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION B
ORDINANCE NO. ___________
Title
An ordinance requiring that all public or recreational parks or facilities located within St. Charles Parish be fenced and have controlled access points equipped with metal detectors and sheriff deputies or other armed security personnel preventing all weapons from entering such facilities at all times during public use of such facilities should an ordinance ever become law which restricts a concealed carry permit holder from possessing or concealing a firearm at said facilities.
Body
WHEREAS, the citizens of St. Charles Parish along with others who visit our recreation parks or facilities should expect to attend these venues without having concerns associated with violent activities occurring during their visit; and,
WHEREAS, evidence has shown that no one is safe at all times since individuals intent on carrying out a violent act can do so at anytime and anywhere; and,
WHEREAS, it is impossible for law enforcement to be at all places at all times to attempt to bring to an end such violence as it is occurring; and,
WHEREAS, what stops a bad guy perpetrating a crime with a gun is a good guy with a gun; and,
WHEREAS, during most crime events, law enforcement is not at the scene during the event but shows up after significant damage has occurred; and,
WHEREAS, arguments have been made that it is better to have a law abiding, armed, concealed carry permit holder in attendance at public or recreational parks or facilities who is willing to accept responsibility for his or her action risking his or her own life for the protection of others at such venues to potentially address a threat should a threat arise; and,
WHEREAS, unless all guns can be completely banned from all public or recreational parks or facilities, one must consider that it may be better to possibly have a law abiding, concealed carry permit holder at said venues that could take action against a threat posed by any armed individual threatening the lives of others; and,
WHEREAS, should the right of a conceal carry permit holder to carry a concealed weapon be stripped away from them during their attendance at all public or recreational parks or facilities, then all such venues must be secured such that no individual, other than those with law enforcement, are allowed to enter such venues with a gun; and,
WHEREAS, should the Council ever pass an ordinance which prohibits a lawful conceal carry permit holder from carrying a concealed weapon, the net effect of such a policy would result in making an otherwise law abiding citizen a criminal should they get caught with a gun within a public or recreational park or facilities and such an ordinance would have no effect whatsoever on preventing an individual intent on doing harm with a gun from doing so should they wish to do so.
THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. That all public or recreational parks or facilities located within St. Charles Parish be fenced and have controlled access points equipped with metal detectors and sheriff deputies or other armed security personnel preventing all weapons from entering such facilities at all times during public use of such facilities should an ordinance ever become law which restricts a concealed carry permit holder from possessing or concealing a firearm at said facilities.
The foregoing ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
And the ordinance was declared adopted the ______ day of ___________, 2016, to become effective five (5) days after publication in the Official Journal.
2016-0346 SECURE RECREATION PARKS (09-18-16) (I_9-19-16)
CHAIRMAN:
SECRETARY:
DLVD/PARISH PRESIDENT:
APPROVED: DISAPPROVED:
PARISH PRESIDENT:
RETD/SECRETARY:
AT: RECD BY: