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Scott County
Affirms
Right To Carry
Weapon Prohibitions In Parks Removed
It seems that not everyone
was aware of the provisions in the Commonwealth’s Constitution and
the KY statutes that protect the citizens right to carry a weapon
for his own defense.
These pictures were taken earlier this summer
at Great Crossings Boat Ramp, which is maintained by the Georgetown
/ Scott County Parks Department. To those individuals who have
chosen to arm themselves for the purpose of self-defense, especially
CCDW licensees certified by the Commonwealth to be decent law-abiding citizens, these signs are rather offensive. It would
appear from the one photo that even our feathered friends aren’t to
fond of them either!
KC3 did a little research
and determined that Scott County is actually the entity responsible
for maintaining the parks and we found several examples of these
signs throughout the parks system. We then took the step of
informing the Honorable George Lusby, Scott County Judge Executive, of the statutes and constitutional
provisions regarding the right to bear arms and recommended that all
of the offending signage be removed. According to a story in the
Georgetown News Graphic, Judge Lusby presented our letter to the
Scott County Fiscal Court at the September 8, 2006 and remarked "If
it's the law, we've got to abide by it.”
Kudos to Judge Lusby as he
has apparently done just that! Visitors to the parks will find the
stand alone signs depicting the handgun under the red slashed circle
have been removed and the PARK RULES & REGULATIONS no longer
exhibits a rule number 5! Unfortunately, there remains a few
misunderstandings about the concept of self-defense and some of the
perceptions of the previous situation.
According to the News
Graphic article written prior to removal of the firearms
prohibitions, “People may soon be able to carry guns, including
concealed weapons, onto the grounds of Scott County's parks and
other county-owned property.” The fact is, they always could, and
not just because the law was unenforceable. Even IF the county had
the authority to completely ban firearms from all of the property
they control, certain people would still be able to carry guns
wherever they liked, ESPECIALLY if they were concealed! Of course,
we generally refer to these people as CRIMINALS. The irony here is
that these are exactly the people you don’t want wandering around
the parks armed while the law-abiding citizen, the one you have no
need to worry about, will give up his arms in order to obey the law.
Locales with such a ban are now, with very good reason, commonly
referred to as Victim Disarmament Zones or even Criminal Empowerment
Zones. Any way you cut it, if you prevent the legal possession of
arms, only those with criminal intent will be armed!
"There's no good reason to
have guns in a public park, in my opinion," Judge Lusby said.
Perhaps he should look to Joe Megerle of Covington for another point
of view. Back in August of 1999, Mr. Megerle was walking in Kenton
County’s Devou Park when a man approached him, drew a pistol and
demanded money while threatening his life. It seems this unlucky
fellow was very unpleasantly surprised to find out that his intended
victim was armed. The perpetrator of the botched robbery was later
arrested upon release from the hospital.
The bottom line is that one
never knows where or when he might encounter an armed thug intent on
terrorizing him for his money, property or simply for the perverted
pleasure of doing him harm. Predatory criminals rely on the element
of surprise and overwhelming force in order to have their way with
their unsuspecting victims. Parks are not exempt from the violence
that is present throughout our society so why would we not allow
decent people the means to defend themselves while enjoying the
public land they help to maintain through their tax contribution?
There is another section of
the Commonwealth’s Constitution that must not be printed in the copy
most government officials keep in their desk drawer. Or maybe it
just stays in the desk drawer far more than it should! Section Two
provides the perfect stumbling block to all those who would attempt
to overstep their authority and especially those who intend to
create some elitist or privileged status not available to the
average citizen.
Absolute and arbitrary power over the lives,
liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic,
not even in the largest majority.
Deciding where and when the
citizenry can exercise a fundamental right is something our founders
took as their obligation to protect and the state legislatures that
came after them have, for the most part, followed their lead. When
local government decides to restrict our right to self-defense, we
simply must challenge their actions.
Freedom is like good health,
without exercise it fades!
28 Oct 2006
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