There is currently no law that says people can’t have guns in city parks -- but a Pittsburgh councilman wants to change that.
Councilman Dan Gilman told Channel 11 that he was in Mellon Park in August when he first realized no such law existed. He said he saw people carrying assault rifles during protests that followed the violent clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, North Carolina.
“I was shocked. It is illegal to have an open flame. It's illegal to have alcohol,” Gilman said. “Yet weapons is in no way one of them.”
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During a City Council meeting Tuesday morning, Gilman introduced an ordinance that would ban firearms in city parks. The legislation would mimic a state law that prohibits people from carrying uncased guns in state parks, except in areas designated for target shooting or hunting during hunting season.
"I'm not looking to infringe on rights or take away where hunting may be permitted. I just don't think 7-year-olds playing little league baseball need to see assault rifles where they play," Gilman said.
A member of a statewide gun-owners group told TribLIVE that state law prohibits municipalities from enacting gun regulations, pointing to an ordinance in a township near Philadelphia that was overturned by Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.
Gilman said his No. 1 goal is to keep kids and families safe.
"Parks are the basic area where our children play. We don't want them breathing cigarette smoke. We don't want them looking at weapons. We don't want them to play in any way in a dangerous environment,” Gilman said.
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