Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga....posted?

[HKR]

I haven't been to the Aquarium in Chattanooga in almost a year. The family has decided that we are going tomorrow. Does anyone know if it is currently posted no carry?

Thanks for any help.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[tommy62]

Yes, it is posted.

[HKR]

Thank you for the quick answer Tommy62.

[TN_Mike]

Sorry to hear that it is posted. I would have liked to have seen it. But, as is our practice, we do not spend money with businesses or in states that would deny us our right to self defense.

[HKR]

I understand the feeling Tn_Mike. We do our best not to spend any money where they prohibit carry, but sometimes it comes down to a balancing act.
Avoiding all places that post would mean depriving the family from many wonderful and enriching experiences.

We do go to Chattanooga much less than we used to. There's just no reason to drive over the border to shop and eat when I can stay in Georgia and carry. Here I can visit parks and attractions and not worry about disarming. And Chattanooga's growing crime and gang problems don't help it's case.


We did see the Aquarium today without issue. Leaving the pistol locked in the car sucked, especially since I have always carried there in the past, but I was not without defensive resources.

[ep1953]

Did you notice the posting and did they have any sort of security?

[Agave]

There's just no reason to drive over the border to shop and eat when I can stay in Georgia and carry.

You can definitely shop and eat in Tennessee and carry. And we appreciate your sales tax. ;)

[HKR]

Did you notice the posting and did they have any sort of security?

The buildings, both the Aquarium and IMAX, had a generic type " no weapons and other things" statement at the doors. I saw no security and no LEOs other than the ones driving by.
The area the Aquarium is located in had posted signs with the codes section. Apparently the entire area is considered a park and Chattanooga does not allow carry in it's parks.

You can definitely shop and eat in Tennessee and carry. And we appreciate your sales tax. ;)

You may appreciate it, but your politicians and many businesses do not. Hamilton Place is posted, many of the restaurants are posted....it's just not worth the drive anymore.
We can stay in Georgia, hit the mall, eat wherever we want, take a walk in whatever park we want.
I like the North Shore, but god forbid I decide to step out of any of the shops and walk over to the river....or want to cross the pedestrian bridge with my family while armed.

The state should have preempted the law allowing carry in parks or at least let the voters decide. If a majority of Chattanoogans had decided that they didn't want firearms in the parks that would be one thing, but to leave it up to the idiot mayor and council is insane. They only spend time in the parks when there is a camera around and their police escort is present.

[majorwoo]

Hi all. Resurrecting an old thread here, but I'm looking for some info.

TN passed a law in 2009 permitting handgun carry in parks but allowing the local municipalities to ban them. When you saw the whole area is off limits because it is a park is this old/removed with the passage of this law in 2009 or have they just posted the entire area as off limits?

See Handgun Carry Permit Frequently Asked Questions specifically http://www.tn.gov/sos/acts/106/pub/pc0428.pdf
It's some awfully shady looking stuff though, as apparently if a school is using the park it then becomes of limits but according to the AG no one has to post any signs, it's just our problem to figure out the park is in use http://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/op/2009/op/op160.pdf

[Agave]

Local governments have a responsibility under the law to post their parks with a specific sign if they ban guns in their parks. However, nowhere does the law protect the carrier if guns are banned in the park and the park is not posted. It is your responsibility to know.

Also, neither the 39-17-1359 sign nor the gun buster have any weight in Tennessee parks. If you have a permit, those signs mean nothing in parks.

[RockBottom]

I hate to see places posted, but considering the damage to exhibits and patrons that a negligent discharge could cause in an aquarium, I can see why the owners might want to post it. I've never been to that aquarium, but I would say the sudden release of several hundred gallons of water instantaneously could pretty much ruin your outing.

[FireStar M40]

Agave said in part..

Nowhere does the law protect the carrier if guns are banned in the park and the park is not posted. It is your responsibility to know.

Do you know how stupid that statement is..!!..?

NO I'm not saying you're stupid, or the fact you said it.. stupid, but rather the statement its self is stupid. With over a estimated 25,000 laws, rules and regulations in the US that has to do with firearms.. NO one (I'll say it again.. NO one), can even come close knowing each and every (as well as ALL).. let alone 2, 3 or 4% of them. To place such a heavy burden upon gun owners is (in my opinion), more than one should ask.

As a example..

In NEW York State "the courts have indicated that a person may NOT be convicted of criminal possession of a firearm, if the weapon is defective at the time of the arrest". Penal Law Article 265.00 (3) pg 12, ie: A Guide To The Firearms and Weapons Law (Lt. Lee O. Thomas NY State Police) 90-084341. Now how many firearms owners across the US know of this obscure "court decision", let alone firearm owners just in the state itself.

They're hundreds of old 1800's laws in the books that are still active that have nothing to do with today's way of life. How would you like to be arrested for chewing gum and skipping along in the city park? Well there's still that law on the books.

I guess I've made my point as to the ridiculousness of the actual statement.. "It's your responsibility to know the laws." There needs to be some common sense used in the whole scheme of things.

FireStar M40

[Agave]

In this situation your responsibility to know only involves one question: Does the local law prohibit possession of handguns in local parks? It isn't that complicated.