Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act To Pass Without Signature
Posted on June 12, 2009 at 5:52 pmGovernor Phil Bredesen will not stand in the way of House Bill 1796. He will allow it to pass without his signature.
Bredesen, in a letter to Speaker Kent Williams, states that the bill which says that federal laws do not apply to firearms, accessories, or ammunition that is manufactured in Tennessee, will likely be found to be unconstitutional.
“This bill is not about firearms. It is about a fringe constitutional theory that I believe will be quickly dispensed with by the federal courts.
The Tennessee General Assembly lacks the Constitutional authority to limit the power and authority of federal government in this way…
…While I share the General Assembly’s commitment to federalism, this legislation contravenes our Constitution. I am allowing it to become law so that it can quickly be dealt with by the federal courts.”
Excuse me? What exactly is our governor saying here? I believe in federalism — except when the states really try to take real power back? I believe in federalism — but not for things like this?
What is unconstitutional about this? If a gun is made here and kept here what the heck business of the federal government is it? If Tennessee wants to make its own laws on firearms why is that bad and how is it unconstitutional?
Bredesen says he believes in federalism but then calls the legislation “based on a fringe constitutional theory.”
What theory would that be other than federalism? This bill doesn’t contravene the Constitution, it contravenes the modern interpretation of it. If you believe in federalism it should be a principle you abide whether the modern court agrees or not.
And if Bredesen does believe the bill is unconstitutional, why not veto it? It’ll become law either way, given our weak gubernatorial veto. The governor took an oath to the constitution, right? How is letting something pass he believes to be unconstitutional in keeping with that oath.
It would be one thing if he wasn’t sure and he wanted to dispatch it to the courts without prejudice. But there seems to be prejudice here.
If he feels the way he obviously does, he should have vetoed it. Otherwise he should have let it pass without comment.
If he doesn’t have enough fortitude to stand up to a “fringe constitutional theory” why do we need to hear about it?
Bill Haslam Joined The NRA In ‘Late February Or Early March’
Posted on April 9, 2009 at 6:49 pmR. Neal hears Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam saying that the Mayors Against Illegal Guns group he recently left has shifted course, he just doesn’t see the evidence:
In defense of what some might perceive as pandering to the NRA crowd, Mayor Haslam says the Mayors Against Illegal Guns group, which claims more than 300 mayors from across America as members, went off in a different direction after he joined.
Looking over their website, I don’t see much if any policy shift. And while some of their proposals may not sit well with gun enthusiasts, who oppose any and all gun regulation, the group certainly isn’t proposing anything as remotely radical as banning guns.
You can see the Bill Haslam’s letter to MAIG here. The March 19 doesn’t provide specifics. Bill Haslam, by the way, also recently joined the National Rifle Association, according to a spokesman, in late February or early March.
Conservatism Is A Dish Best Served In Opposition
Posted on April 2, 2009 at 10:11 pmDavid Oatney is riled up:
The survivial of our federal republic is more important than putting on some stadium show, speaking rosy words, and drumming up chants of “yes we can.” Winning an election gives no administration, regardless of its political affiliation, a license to destroy the very foundations upon which our forefathers built this country. Conservatives will not allow Mr. Obama, his minions, or his legions to bring this nation to constitutional collapse, and we will use whatever means are necessary to prevent national ruin.
If the Left is afraid that we will not put up with what they are doing to our country and that we will not rest one solitary second until these wicked policies are brought to an end, they have just cause to be very afraid indeed. Every time Mr. Obama so much as opens his mouth, the revolution grows.
We shall never surrender, and we will fight for the right will every fiber of our very beings.
Remembering Tommy Burks
Posted on at 9:11 pmRep. Henry Fincher on why he wants to carry his steel in the Plaza:
“On October 1998, a senator from Putnam County, my friend, Sen. Tommy Burks, was foully murdered on his home property by his opponent, his Republican opponent, who was running for his senate seat he was shot down dead we are in danger because of the positions we have to take so I certainly understand and agree that judges are in a difficult situation, I see that constantly. They have to make hard decisions about people’s families, their kids, and whether they are going to jail. I fundamentally disagree with the premise that we are not in danger because that danger was brought home in a very personal way to me and I take issue with that premise, Mr. Speaker.”
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Should Liberals Go Heeled?
Posted on April 1, 2009 at 3:56 pmIlissa Gold thinks it might be wise to take your whistle with ya if you’re fixin’ to leave your house as a progressive:
But I wonder if it’s something that all progressives, regardless of sexual orientation or other factors, have to worry about. The violent rhetoric from the right about rising up and overthrowing the government is growing. Republican leaders are actively calling for a “revolution”. Militia activity has been on the rise in the last few years, and is expected to increase with Obama’s presidency.
And while you’d rather think of people like Jim Adkisson shooting up a Unitarian church in Knoxville as an evil aberration, you do have to wonder how many others like him are out there, whose minds have been so poisoned by the violent right-wing rhetoric that they could snap at any moment, and look to take out those whom, again, they perceive as “weaker”.
This isn’t going to stop anytime soon, and I’m of the opinion that we need to be prepared. I’m not saying all liberals need to (or should) carry, nor am I saying that anyone should rely on weapons at the expense of reaching out to others through dialogue and eudcation. But it’s a civil liberties issue, as far as I’m concerned–if the Bill O’Reillys and Glenn Becks and Michelle Malkins of the country have the right to spread violent rhetoric, then those of us at whom the rhetoric is aimed have the right to defend ourselves. We cannot be caught off-guard again.
Beware Of The Ides Of Martial
Posted on at 2:12 pmRepublicans want to make sure their guns don’t get snagged by the Fedgov if our little experiment in Democracy starts falling apart:
The sponsor, House Republican caucus chair Glen Casada, explained martial law might be declared “by the governor, president or somebody like that” usually at a time of “invasion or civil unrest.”
“I’m a firm believer that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure,” Casada told the subcommittee. “Obviously, things are bad under martial law, and we’d need our weapons to protect ourselves.”
Haslam, I’m Guessing, Doesn’t Have Pics Like These
Posted on at 11:50 am
Lt. Governor and gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey at a legislative range day. Rep. Stacey Campfield looks on.
SEE ALSO: Say Uncle
April Fools, We Think…
Posted on at 10:45 amWith Chip Forrester in charge, I suppose anything is possible. A press release from the Tennessee Democratic Party:
The Tennessee Democratic Party today gave its full support to pending legislation that would allow citizens to carry their guns into the voting booth.
The Senate bill, SB 357, would remove the requirement that guns be left outside the voting booth.
“For too long, law-abiding Tennesseans have suffered the inconvenience of leaving their guns outside the polling place,” says Forrester. “Now however, it has gone beyond inconvenience. With the Republicans removing fair-minded Election Coordinators across the state for partisan reasons, Democrats need to be able to carry their guns to protect their voting rights.”
The Republican takeover of the Tennessee General Assembly has impacted county election offices across the state, as GOP leaders have begun replacing law-abiding commissioners for purely partisan reasons.
“I think it would be very understandable that they would want to make a change if there had been problems with the way the elections had been run,” Sarah Bailey, coordinator of Elections in Unicoi County told News Channel 11 in Bristol.
However, Republican leaders want to replace Bailey and other Democrats regardless of the quality of their job performance.
The House is expected to reach bi-partisan consensus on a similar bill. “We know that Republicans want guns in parks and bars, so we don’t expect any fight from them on this common sense legislation,” Forrester said.
“And if anyone has a problem with guns in voting booths, they should just check the date and get over it,” Forrester concluded.
Official Safety Department Release On Registering Guns Used In Permit Classes
Posted on December 18, 2008 at 5:02 pmThe presser:
This week the Department of Safety mailed new Handgun Safety School Class Roster forms to all 164 Handgun Safety Schools across the state.
The new forms inadvertently included three sections that requested the make of the gun, handgun serial number, and whether the school or student owned the handgun. This should not have been done and the sections were included in error. These new forms had been created in response to a Comptroller’s Performance Audit finding relative to verifying an applicant’s successful completion of a handgun safety course. The intent of the new form was to verify participation in the handgun safety course.
TDOS rules and regulations require records of students who participated in the handgun safety course. This allows the department to verify that an individual applying for a permit has successful completed the course with the handgun safety school. Failure to verify that individuals who apply for a handgun carry permit have successfully completed a course with an approved school may potentially allow individuals to submit false certificates and obtain a handgun carry permit.
A letter from Handgun Permit Unit Director Lisa Knight is being sent to handgun school owners informing them that the Department of Safety has instructed them not to complete the three sections. The Handgun Unit is in the process of revising the form and mailing new forms that omit those three sections.
“There was no intent by the Department of Safety to create any sort of gun registry.” stated Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “The department regrets any confusion or misunderstanding caused by the issuance of the new handgun safety roster form.”
PREVIOUSLY:
None Of Your Business Gun Update
Communicating Intentions
None Of Your Business Gun Update
Posted on at 9:21 amSay Uncle with some big news:
The Tennessee Department of Safety has sent out letters telling instructors that teach the handgun carry course to fill out this roster. This roster records information about the gun used to take the course, including model, serial number and whether or not it belongs to the student. I received this info from a forwarded email sent out by the Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc., who notes that Nothing in the statutes authorize or direct the Department of Safety to collect or require this information.
Shooting Yourself In The Foot Hurts Like A Mother
Posted on December 4, 2008 at 1:32 pmKatie Allison Granju lets us (and criminals, potential stalkers, etc.) know that there are no guns in her house:
I totally get that “mother bear” instinct. If anyone threatened one of my children, I would be on them like a crazed spider monkey. And if I thought that having a gun in my house would help me protect and defend my family, I would have one. But I know myself too well to believe that a gun would help, rather than hurt..I don’t know that I could handle a gun competently in the adrenalin rush that would come with a threatening situation - no matter what kind of training I had had. In fact, I would probably be one of those people who end up having their own gun turned on them.
SEE ALSO: Say Uncle:
First, I’m uncertain what a crazed spider monkey is capable of. But I’m guessing that 230 grains of jacketed lead could probably dispatch of one fairly easily. Second, I’ve met Katie. And whether or not she was in crazed spider monkey mode, I could totally take her in a fight. I guess what I’m saying is that if your plan is to become a monkey, it’s not a good plan. Glock or brawn beats monkey.
I Need Forged Documents
Posted on September 24, 2008 at 12:42 pmFrom Say Uncle:
Obama shill says his support for gun rights is well-documented. No word on the location of these documents.
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