Charlie White

@c_write

Authorities in Indiana can't enforce a planned ban on firearms at Saturday's Thunder Over Louisville, Jeffersonville City Attorney Les Merkley said Thursday.

Merkley issued his decision after he received numerous emails and text messages Wednesday night that took issue with the city's list of items that would not be allowed.

"Local government does not have the authority to enact any regulation concerning firearms," Merkley said, citing a 2011 Indiana law.

Jeffersonville Police Maj. Josh Lynch, law enforcement branch director overseeing efforts on the Indiana side of the Ohio River for Thunder, said including guns on the list was not intended "to remove people's Second Amendment rights," noting he's a lifetime National Rifle Association member.

However, Lynch hopes that pepole will leave their guns at home, saying the solution is not to bring more guns to what's expected to be a crowded event with extra law enforcement.

Jeffersonville has used essentially the same list of banned items for years, and city officials admit it should have been updated after state law changed in 2011.

The City Council passed ordinances in 2009 and 2010 banning guns at public events, Merkley said.

It adopted another ordinance in 2011 repealing any city regulations banning firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories.

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Kentucky officials are coordinating security efforts with more than 120 troopers from Indiana State Police and municipal police forces from Clarksville, New Albany and Jeffersonville.

Louisville Metro Police said earlier this week that, with the proper paperwork, people have a right to carry firearms.

However, Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad urged people not to bring firearms to Thunder even if the Second Amendment and state laws allow people to openly carry and to carry concealed in some situations.

"Just because you have a right to do it in a large crowd situation doesn't make it the right thing to do," Conrad said.

"You don't need to bring a gun to Thunder. I'm not telling you you can't. You don't need it."

Conrad said bringing a firearm is unnecessary with a record number of law enforcement personnel, more than 1,100, scheduled to work. He said they have plans for everything from lost children to traffic to criminal activity.

"This is one day when we're going to be geared up and ready to let people know they don't need it," he said.

The chief said that, while introducing a gun in the situation "maybe makes that person carrying the gun (feel) safer," it could lead to other people feeling unsafe.

He also pointed out the danger of gunfire in a crowd and the potential of hurting "untold" people the shooter didn't intend to injure. Also, if police arrive at a situation, people carrying firearms could make it difficult to "know who is the good guy and who is bad."

Jeffersonville, Metro Police and officers from other agencies say they are prepared to deal with any problems, including those involving weapons.

"There's going to be an overwhelming amount of law enforcement presence down there," said Lynch.

Lynch, who has worked the event for a dozen years, doesn't recall a time when guns weren't listed among other weapons on its banned list, nor does he remember any major confrontation involving weapons at the event.

The rule was put in place "to protect people" when Indiana cities previously could create an event area where guns were banned, he said.

Lynch said he read criticism about the planned gun ban Thursday morning on the local online forum, clarkcountychatter.com, where some members posted that they plan to carry guns to the event in light of the recent teen gang violence in Louisville.

Lynch said he believes that even critics of the gun ban would want officers to confront anyone who pulls out a gun at the event.

Lynch said he and other officers learned a lot about contingency planning for emergencies since training with Massachusetts and other police agencies after the Boston Marathon bombings last April.

Lynch said he agrees that armed Good Samaritans sometimes help protect others in addition to themselves. But he also believes armed citizens can pose an equal danger when it comes to bullets flying astray.

"If you're down at Thunder and your child is shot and killed ... does that change anything at all? To me, it doesn't," he said.

Reporter Charlie White can be reached at (812) 949-4026 and on Twitter @c_write.

Prohibited items on Indiana side

• Open carry of alcohol

• Weapons other than firearms

• Glass bottles and containers

• Silly string and noxious gases

• Skateboards and bicycles

• Unauthorized vehicles (ATV's and four-wheelers)

• Laser pointers

• Pets