Democrat Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney signed an executive order on Tuesday to ban the carry of guns in city parks and recreational centers, which includes those carried by concealed permit holders.
FOX News announced the executive order had been signed and quoted Kenney as saying “This gives them some protection, some peace of mind, some ability to call the authorities when some knucklehead decides they want to bring a gun into a rec center, and they see it, that’s part of what this is about.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, “The order bans guns and other deadly weapons at rec center buildings, athletic courts, fields, playgrounds, and pools. Signs about the prohibition will be displayed at the facilities, the order says, and District Attorney Larry Krasner said his office could charge those in violation with trespassing — even if they are otherwise legally permitted to carry the gun in the city.”
FOX News reported that Krasner said, “Even if you have a permit to carry, and you go on those premises, then you’ve got a problem with me.”
Kenney's executive order is likely to be challenged in court because of Philadelphia's preemption law, which prohibits municipal governments and cities from implementing gun control laws that are more stringent than those at the state level.
The Inquirer noted that, “Courts have cited preemption while consistently striking down attempts by cities, including Philadelphia, to ban assault-style weapons, limit handgun purchases, and prohibit guns in parks and at recreation centers.”
The preemption statutes state, “No county, municipality, or township may in any manner regulate the lawful ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, or ammunition components when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this commonwealth.”
Breitbart News observed in July 2022 that Mayor Jim Kenney (D) suggested that only police officers should be armed.
FOX News reported that Kenney spoke to reporters following an incident in which two Philadelphia Police officers were shot on July 4.
Kenney was reflecting on the 4th of July and said, “It was a chilled back day, beautiful weather. But we live in America where we have the Second Amendment and we have the Supreme Court of the United States telling everybody they can carry a gun wherever they want.”
He said, “I was in Canada two weeks ago and never thought about a gun. The only people I knew who had guns in Canada were police officers.”
He added, “That’s the way it should be here.”
