DESOTO COUNTY, MS (abc24.com) - The National Rifle Association is happy, but DeSoto County gun owners aren't convinced. Gun advocates voiced concerns over the county's proposed gun law Monday.
The board of supervisors has drafted and re-drafted it. Voting is a month away and not even supervisors know how they'll vote.
The first version would have required a permit to bring a gun into the county's parks and greenways. After public outcry, supervisors changed the language. In the second version it would be illegal to fire a weapon in parks.
Even with that change, not everyone is convinced the law is needed.
"I feel good about the changes that we've come up with, but at the same time we've got a second amendment right. I just feel like every time we add another law ordinance it takes away from part of our freedom," says supervisor Harvey Lee.
Desoto County's five supervisors are as split on the proposed gun ordinance as the public.
"We're losing too many rights in DeSoto County because of silly laws," says gun owner Buddy Malone.
"I don't think we ought to make gun laws we already have in place on the state and federal levels, that we then ought to make a decision at the county level," says Lee.
Desoto's making a big push to expand its parks. The proposed law is the board's way of ensuring the future developments are safe.
"We haven't had parks and green ways," says supervisor Mark Gardner. "If we have girl and boy scouts on trails we want to provide some protection."
If the ordinance is passed, it would be illegal to fire a gun or weapon like a cross bow in the parks.
"The people this is targeting are the people already breaking the law to begin with," says Lee.
The ordinance would reinforce existing state laws, and give the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office more power to question violators.
"NRA attorneys been over this with fine tooth comb and they're comfortable with this," Gardner says.
But so far the supervisors and gun owners aren't.
"I'm not real sure how I'm going to vote on this right now," says Lee. "I'm still thinking and I'm going to see what more the public has to say."
Another public hearing on the ordinance will be held on November 19, when supervisors will vote on the issue.
