By Jenelle Grewell | Assistant News Editor

The new Tennessee law to allow handguns to be carried by handgun-carry permit holders in parks, Public Chapter 428, went into affect Tuesday, Sept. 1. The Associated Press reported 70 cities across Tennessee have decided not to pass the new new Tennessee law.

Clarksville was one of the cities to opt out of the law in July. A month after Clarksville chose not to pass the law, City Council members struck down a resolution to repeal the ban proposed by Fourth Ward Councilman Wallace Redd.

Lance Biles, APSU director of Public Safety, said the law would not affect APSU campus. “The laws about guns on campus did not change,” Biles said.

The Associated Press went on to report a second vote on the new law after Clarksville Police Department Deputy Chief Mike Parr said 58 of the more than 13,000 crimes committed in Clarksville last year were committed in parks.

Supporters of the ban say it will protect park users, especially children. However, opponents say the ban will create a patchwork of rules that ruin the law’s intention, which is to make it possible for people with licenses to have more freedom in carrying guns into more public places.

“Any time you have a weapon, it gives you more reason to abuse them,” Biles said.

Some APSU students shared Biles’ concern. Robert Gallowitz, a sophomore marketing major said, “I think the law will cause more problems and that it is unnecessary to have hand guns in parks.”

Brooklyn Singleton, a freshman undecided major said everyone has a right to bear arms and doesn’t see the big deal.

“If people are concerned about the safety of children then they shouldn’t want guns to be carried, period, because children are not only in parks,” Singleton said.

It was also reported that with so many cities opting out of the new law, people in support of the law are pressing lawmakers to take the decision out of the hands of local city governments and up to the state.

“I think the decision should be left up to the state. [Allowing guns in parks] would just cause mass confusion from state to state,” Gallowitz said.

Richard Locker of the Memphis Commercial Appeal wrote on the newspaper’s Web site, www.commercialappeal.com, that he hopes Governor Phil Bredesen will do his part to urge legislature to “roll back some of the gun laws it passed this year at the urging,” he said, “of a relatively few but passionate people.”

Biles said this law would probably never affect the APSU campus. He said such a law is unnecessary when the campus has such a dedicated security force.

For the complete list of Handgun Carry Permit T.C.A. codes, log on to www.tennessee.gov/safety/handgun/handguntca.htm.

– Jenelle Grewell, Assistant News Editor

By Marlon Scott | News Editor

Zach Wamp, Republican Congressman for the 3rd District of Tennessee, is campaigning to become governor in 2010. Last month the Chattanooga native embarked on his 20/20 Vision Tour. The tour covered nearly 4,000 miles and 27 cities in Tennessee. The large red bus with Wamp’s visage even made a stop at APSU.

“I continue to be surprised by the new things that I learn. Physics at Austin Peay, for example, I didn’t know that,” Wamp said. “That’s why good campaigns make for better law makers and leaders. Because if a good campaign means your out there asking questions and learning, then you are just preparing yourself to serve.”

Described as a “common sense conservative” on his Web site (www.house.gov/wamp/biography.shtm), Wamp served in Congress for 15 years before his campaign for governor began. His legislative accomplishments include taking steps to improve education by co-authoring the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act and also establishing the Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor.

As a candidate for governor, Wamp continues to support education, citing it as the key to success after graduation. He has specific goals he wishes to achieve in education if elected governor.

“You will improve our standing, the bottom line, the end result and education in general if we start reading better,” Wamp said. “It takes a coordinated effort from top to bottom and you have got to engage everybody from foundations to local governments to daycare and child care centers. But it starts with the governor saying that basic reading is going to be job one in public education.”

When asked about the fears expressed by most college students including constantly improving school costs and unemployment after graduation, Wamp said, “A lot of students that I have represented have said ‘Would this be a good time for me to get another degree or stay in school and get a graduate degree?’ and I am honest with them and say ‘yes.’ If you can, do it, this is the time to do it. You retool when the job market is difficult and continue to expand your education because it is a good time frankly.”

The focus of Wamp’s 20/20 Vision campaign is preparing Tennessee for the future. He asks Tennesseans what they want Tennessee to be in the year 2020.

“The 20/20 Vision came out of my heart because every generation, I think a governor needs to surface that has a long term agenda,” Wamp said. “Not just managing today’s problems.”

Wamp’s stance on issues and the last stops on his 20/20 Vision tour can be found at www.ZachWamp.com.
He and his wife, Kim, have two children in college: their son, Weston, and daughter, Coty.

– Marlon Scott, News Editor