STATEMENT BY COUNCILMAN GEOFF PADDOCK REGARDING ORDINANCE

TO REPEAL FIREARMS IN PUBLIC PLACES

October 18, 2016
The Fort Wayne City Council should not take any action that would make our residents
feel less safe in our public parks. I appreciate Council Arp bringing this issue forward for
debate. However, many individuals believe we would be letting them down by
considering this proposal, even though this 2011 state law allowing fire arms and other
weapons into city parks supersedes the local ordinance and makes our law invalid. The
city has complied with the state law since it was enacted.
This issue merits further discussion with our State Legislative delegation. It is not
appropriate for the state to usurp its authority in this matter. It is only logical that local
governments in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Huntington Auburn, New Haven, and every
other city and town should make their own decisions regarding public safety in parks and
other public entities. City Councils are close to the citizens they represent. The Fort
Wayne City Council meets every Tuesday. Our constituents contact us on a variety of
issues. We are in the neighborhoods and at events on weekends. Our constituents also
come to council meetings to tell us what they think. Local government is the government
closest to the people. Local government should decide local public safety issues, not the
State Legislature in Indianapolis.
Many residents of the Fifth District have contacted me, and they are overwhelmingly
opposed to lifting fire arm restrictions and easing regulations on other weapons that could
be used in our public parks. Unfortunately, state law now allows this, providing an
individual carries a personal protection permit. I am the Executive Director of
Headwaters Park, a large open area which hosts pavilions, a splash pad, a festival center,
and a winter ice skating rink in the center of Fort Wayne. Patrons coming to Headwaters
Park to exercise, attend festivals, participate in not for profit walks, attend weddings, and
ice skate, and are not comfortable with fire arms and other weapons on the premises.
This is not good public policy. It does not provide for a safe haven. The state law is
detrimental to the citys right to pass legislation to protect its citizens.
Our award winning parks are safe, and my constituents do not want to see individuals
roaming them with weapons. Firearms in parks should only be in the possession of well
trained law enforcement officers. This is not an issue about gun rights. This is an issue
about public safety.
I will vote no on the ordinance offered to repeal city ordinance 97.62, which prohibits fire
arms, fire works, and other potentially lethal weapons into our public spaces. I also urge
our State Legislators to revisit this issue in the upcoming session of the General
Assembly. I would request that local governments be given more home rule, not less,
particularly when it comes to this important issue.
Geoff Paddock, Fifth District City Councilman
260/425-5745 (work) 260/341-3250 (cell)