Bill Haslam Joined The NRA In ‘Late February Or Early March’

By Kleinheider Posted on April 9, 2009 at 6:49 pm

R. 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.

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Tags: Bill Haslam, guns, Mayors Against Guns, Mayors Against Illegal Guns  

Haslam Leaves Mayors Against Guns Group?

By Kleinheider Posted on April 1, 2009 at 3:32 pm

Conservatives have had a lot of questions about Haslam’s involvement in the group but now Say Uncle reports the Mayor is no longer listed on the website.

UPDATE: Haslam campaign manager Jeremy Harrell on the Mayor’s disappearance from the list:

Bill has resigned from the group. He did so because he believes MAIG has expanded its mission in ways that go far beyond fighting criminal gun use, including a number of ideas that he does not share.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: In January, Haslam expresses concern that he would appear to be “pandering” to pro-gun folks if he quit the group.

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Tags: Bill Haslam, Mayors Against Guns, Ron Ramsey