TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Tulsa police won’t be required to enforce a local riverfront park’s firearm ban because of concerns that such action would be legally challenged, city officials said.
Gerry Bender, Tulsa’s Litigation Division manager, told The Tulsa World that officers won’t arrest those who violate the Gathering Place’s gun policy.
Oklahoma law allows for firearms to be carried on property designated by a governmental authority as a park, recreational area or fairgrounds. But the Gathering Place has a policy that bans firearms. Park officials said, “Parks routinely prohibit firearms and the courts have routinely upheld such prohibitions.”
The park operates as a private enterprise but was gifted by the George Kaiser Family Foundation in 2014 to River Parks Authority, a public entity. River Parks reached a deal in which a subsidiary of the foundation would maintain, operate and program the park.
Tulsa police will enforce local ordinances and state laws at the park, but won’t enforce park rules, said Tulsa Police Department spokeswoman Jeanne MacKenzie.
“Gathering Place has its own private security that officers assist on several matters, but (police) do not have anything to do with their rules,” MacKenzie said.
Officers will respond to requests for help from the park’s private security or local residents, Bender said.
The issue arose after members of the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association were turned away from the Gathering Place for having firearms during the park’s opening Sept. 8. Tulsa police officers who were at the site helped park security escort the men from the premises.
The city met with Gathering Place officials after the opening day incident to discuss the city’s enforcement role regarding the firearm ban, Bender said. The city was concerned about possible litigation if officers actively participated in removing visitors who violated the park’s policy, he said.
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Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com
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