Guns in Parks May Not Affect Spring Fling Decision

Whether or not a city allows guns in parks may not be an issue in deciding where to hold Tennessee’s high school sports championships.

Last week, on the advice of lawyers, the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association backed off from an all-out boycott of venues that allow guns. Even so, the three cities vying to host next year’s spring championships are among the first to consider opting out of the new state law allowing guns in local parks.

Murfreesboro voted to keep guns out of parks last week. The city has hosted the Spring Fling for the last several years, and leaders want to keep the estimated 3.4 million dollars in tourism revenue generated by the event.

Chattanooga is hoping to get another chance at the Spring Fling, which was held there for almost a decade straight. Its council is taking up a resolution to opt out of the guns in parks law tonight.

In Knoxville, a proposal is on the table to ban guns specifically from parks with ballfields. That city is hoping for its first chance at hosting the championships.

The TSSAA will decide next month which city gets to host the Spring Fling.