The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Staff Reports
Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 11:24 AM
City Of Knoxville To Ban Weapons At Planned Protest At Fort Sanders Confederate Monument Saturday
But days before the protest is set to take place, many people are asking how the mayor's office can ban firearms in a state that allows permits for open carry.
"The law of the state of Tennessee is that it's okay if a city wants to ban guns in a sensitive area," said Lincoln Memorial University professor of law Stewart Harris.
While the Volunteer State issues permits for the concealed or open carry, guns and other weapons will be banned from this weekend's Confederate monument protest.
"If the city does that, then the city has to control access to that area and have some sort of metal detector there--some sort of gun detector there," said Harris.
Harris knows exactly how much power the law gives the city of Knoxville when it comes to guns.
He says there are limitations to the Second Amendment right.
"The law is developing, but by and large the government can reasonably regulate arms to make sure that people that people with mental problems, bad guys, don't get their hands on them, keep them out of the hands of children, things of that sort," said Harris.