Mayor Ballard Will Veto "Guns-In-Parks" Ordinance

From WTHR:

Indianapolis - A move to allow guns in city parks is raising a stir. While proponents see it as a gun rights issue, critics see it as nothing but trouble.

Monday, Libertarian City-County Councilor Ed Coleman introduced a proposal that would let people with gun permits carry firearms in city parks. While Coleman could not be reached Monday, it's a change his party strongly supports.

Chris Spangle is Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Indiana.

"State law allows [guns] in state parks, federal law in federal parks. We're asking lawmakers to give us the right to protect ourselves in dangerous situations," said Spangle.

Fraternal Order of Police President Bill Owensby said he backs the move.

"People with gun permits are law-abiding citizens. It's the ones without permits that the law doesn't matter to anyway," said Owensby.

...

But perhaps the biggest obstacle is Republican Mayor Greg Ballard who vowed to veto the proposal if it reaches his desk.

"I don't support it. Never hear about this. People were happy where it is. I just don't support it. I think things are fine the way they are," the mayor said.

Now, I don't know if anyone has noticed, but the Republican Party has traditionally been the party of gun owners. They want less regulation so that citizens that own their legal firearm can exercise their inherent right (as specified, but not given by, both the United States and Indiana Constitution) to carry them on their person for protection.

Keep in mind that both national parks and state parks ALREADY allow citizens to carry their firearms. I see this proposal not as some radical idea, but simply lining up with what's happened elsewhere. Usually it's the cities that are ahead of the state and federal governments. A bit strange that it's backwards.

But what's interesting most of all is Mayor Greg Ballard saying he'll veto it. Why does he think Indianapolis should be different, in this area, than the state and nation? While the pro-gun segment isn't likely going to vote for a Democratic mayoral candidate, they'll be more than willing to not support Mayor Ballard in the primary, or just not vote at all in the general.