The Knoxville City Council formally asked the mayor to look into banning gun shows at city-owned spaces Tuesday night in an easy, 8-1 vote.

Mayor Madeline Rogero said she supported the resolution and, as a matter of policy, would not allow any new gun show bookings for city-owned property.

Moving forward, she said the next mayor would have to recommit to the ban. Both mayoral candidates, Eddie Mannis and Indya Kincannon, have said they support the resolution. Rogero leaves office in December.

With the move, the city is inviting lawsuits from state and federal gun rights groups like the Tennessee Firearms Association and the National Rifle Association, among others.

Ahead of Tuesday's vote, Tennessee Firearms Association Executive Director John Harris said the group would not hesitate to bring legal action against the city or get the Tennessee General Assembly to take action against the city.

“We're not going to sit by and let Knoxville escape without consequence," he said.

Gun shows are 'insult to injury'

The resolution was brought by Councilwoman Gwen McKenzie, whose district covers both downtown and East Knoxville, home to the city’s three main spaces for events: Chilhowee Park, the Civic Auditorium and the Knoxville Convention Center.

She reiterated, as she did earlier in the week, that the resolution has nothing to do with her views on legal gun ownership (she approves and owns a gun herself). But rather she thinks it is an "insult to injury" for the city to allow gun shows in the area of town that has dealt with gun violence for decades.

“It’s very hard to understand it if you’ve never lived in a community or neighborhoods where gun violence is prevalent, where hearing gunshots is prevalent and having to go to funerals of young people is prevalent," McKenzie said.

Lawrence Williams, a minister with World United Ministries and Honey Rock Victorious Church International, has protested against gun shows at Chilhowee Park in the past.

"I’m passionate because that’s where I come from … and when we have these gun shows inside the gun zone, inside of East Knoxville, that’s not a good look," he said. "Bring jobs over there. Business over there. Everything is leaving out, but ain’t no resources coming in."

A group of protesters from Moms Demand Action also came to Tuesday's meeting.

No one spoke against the resolution Tuesday.

What's next?

City Council Attorney Rob Frost said oversight of the facilities belongs to the administration, not the council, so it will be up to Rogero and her successor to decide on the course of action.

Earlier in the week, Frost said the city could face legal challenges if it were to ban the shows, not the least of which could be breach of contract issues for shows booked later this year and into the future.

R.K. Shows Inc. has held multiple gun shows this year at Chilhowee Park, including the Gun Show in the Smokies scheduled for the first and last weekends of December.

Rogero said the city would not allow any new gun shows to be booked at city-owned facilities but would allow the two scheduled shows to go as planned due to contractual concerns.

Councilman George Wallace voted against the resolution, saying he is unsure the city has the authority to restrict gun shows and said he wants to protect taxpayers.

The Knoxville Expo Center is no stranger to hosting gun shows, but is not owned or operated by the city, and therefore would not be affected.