TGO David

That's a good problem. PITS can accommodate between 50-60 in their meeting room area. If we fill it, then we don't have to share it with any other groups. So the more the merrier. As a side note, when you arrive just ask to be seated with the TGO group.

That is exactly the question that I have struggled with for a while now and the reason why I have opted not to produce these cards for TGO to date. Frankly, the TFA cards strike me as being marketing propaganda with very little meat behind them given the illogical situation in which you would have to find yourself in order to use them in the first place. Consider the facts: It is incumbent upon the HCP holder to notice whether or not an establishment is posted as a prohibited location before he or she enters the restaurant. If you have already dined, you owe the establishment your money. If it is the TFA's position that you leave these cards with your payment... you've accomplished what precisely? You have already given them your money. The waitstaff will likely throw the card away and the manager will never see it. If the manager does see it, so what? They already have your money. So you've proven what? That you may not be back? To most restaurants, that's not exactly a big deal. Alternatively you would notice that the restaurant is posted, and then go inside to deliver a card and then leave without dining and subsequently paying. Riiiiiiight. Who did you give the card to? Waitress? Manager? Just drop it on the counter (crop dusting) and leave? As a non-paying hit and run activist, your opinion likely means nothing to the management. So again, I think this is a pretty useless tactic. Rather than send you all out with silly cards similar to what TFA borrowed from several other state's web sites, I am trying to come up with something a little different that actually has some teeth behind it. Stay tuned.

Married life has been way too good to me.

Fearless leader needs to eat a fearless salad. Jesus, I've let myself boldly go.

In the courtroom proper? At best they had 10-12 people on their side present. There were at least that many on our side present and the room would have only held 24 total, max.

The mood was respectful and reserved. During the brief recess while Chancellor Bonnyman was in her chambers to craft her response, discussion was a bit lighthearted among the parties present but I think everyone's minds were still set squarely on just what the Chancellor might say once session resumed. I did find it... odd, perhaps? ... that there seemed to be a lot of backslapping and yucking it up going on between players on opposite sides of the aisle. For instance, Adam Dread was hamming it up pretty good with Bob Pope of the Pope's Gun Show fame. The seemed to know each other from outside the courtroom, so who knows. I just found that to be odd and not quite adversarial. A while back I had polo shirts made up with the TGO logo embroidered on it and offered them up to the Moderators and Staff. We already offer hats up to the members at large, but shirts will be made available to the members as well very soon. So yeah a few of us had TGO shirts on. Beyond that, I've gotten to know quite a few of the local members (by face, if not by name) thanks to the monthly Meet & Shoot events that we have down at Owl Hollow. Since the courtroom that I was in was so small, it was easy to spot any other TGO'ers that may have been present. I didn't see inside the other room so I have no idea if anyone from here was in there. Hope that answers your questions.

As usual, you are as subtle as a chainsaw hysterectomy, Hex. I don't know if you attended the hearing today, but if you did you will recall that the percentages issue was part of what the plaintiffs argued makes the law unconstitutional. Now, this only becomes an issue when a restaurant (or bar) fails to meet the minimum percentage of non-alcohol sales imposed on them by the State to begin with, which in turn makes those venues in violation, but the fact remains that percentages do play a role in a venue's ability to serve alcohol. No, Tennessee does not license bars and all places that serve alcohol also must serve food AND are required to generate at least 50% of their revenue from non-alcohol related sales in order to retain their liquor license.

Glock slide? What Glock slide? I've got a spiffy Glock paperweight that I'd let you have though. See you tomorrow!

Please see this new thread... http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/events-gatherings/24105-tennessee-gun-owners-middle-tennessee-hb0962-victory-dinner-tuesday-july-14th.html

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Middle Tennessee members of TGO are invited to a victory dinner celebrating the successful adoption of House Bill 0962 (Provision for carry by HCP holders in restaurants that serve alcohol) as LAW. Come and join us as we celebrate the triumph of common sense legislation! WHEN: Tuesday, July 14th 2009. 7pm - 9pm. WHERE: Pie In The Sky Pizza. 1770 Galleria Blvd # A, Franklin, TN. (CLICK HERE FOR MAP) TGO's own Nikki Goeser will be attending and will be calling in LIVE to the NRA "Cam & Company" radio show from the restaurant. We will be sending a group picture to Cam, hopefully to be used in the simultaneous web-broadcast and for posting on their web site. IMPORTANT NOTES: I spoke with the PITS management this evening and they were gracious enough to allow us the chance to meet and dine there tomorrow in their "meeting room". At present they do not have any intent to post their property as prohibited for carry. HOWEVER, they do reserve the right to change that later if their willingness to support HCP holders is abused in any way that is detrimental to their business. That said, I am requiring the following: If you carry, you must carry concealed. They do not want us ruffling the feathers of their other paying customers by walking around their establishment openly carrying. I do not care what your personal opinions are on open carry. The desire of the property owner is that we conceal, so we will conceal. Period. There will be no drinking of alcoholic beverages by any member of our party, regardless of their unarmed status. The media will likely be watching our group and any other TGO group that meets for meals tomorrow at predetermined places and times. Therefore it is imperative that NO ONE from our parties drinks alcohol at these gatherings. It doesn't matter if you are unarmed or not. Non-alcoholic beverages only. Please, please, please tip well and be gracious to our hosts and hostesses. Leave the waitstaff with a positive impression and thank the manager, if possible, for affording us the opportunity to dine in their establishment. Finally, if you can make it, please vote accordingly in the poll attached to this thread. See you there!

Freshmen members don't have access to post blogs. Once you clear Freshman status, you will be able to.

Repost.

Thank you for posting the contents rather than linking. It's always better to just post than link since sites often disappear from the Internet and then the links are useless.

I figured you were delayed getting the parking boot removed from your car.

IMPORTANT... I have added a poll to this thread. Please vote (and do it quick) so that I can get an initial head-count of how many people will likely be attending the Nashville-area dinner. The venue will be announced shortly. I just need to know how many will likely attend so that I can have an intelligent conversation with the management of several restaurants. Venue will be within a 20-30 minute drive of downtown Nashville proper. Maybe even closer than that. We're just keeping our options open! Event will happen at 8:00pm CST since it will be held in conjunction with a LIVE call-in to the NRA Radio "Cam and Company" show from Nikki Goeser who will be in attendance.

Correct.

I am making some phone calls and will post a venue this evening. We had a brief pow-wow earlier at the Courthouse and decided that it might be best to have this outside of Davidson County given the inordinate amount of attention that will be given to any such gathering. There was a bit of concern that Metro PD's leadership might be overzealous in trying to police the new law, especially if they knew where a pro-2A meet was happening. That said, the middle TN function will most likely occur in Williamson or Rutherford county. Stay tuned.

???

Not Daniel, but... 1. Full court room. Room seated approximately 18 in the gallery although I suspect there were closer to 24. Representatives of the media sat in what would have typically been the juror's seats. Enough citizen interest was present that the Court provided overflow seating in a nearby room with televised coverage and audio piped into it. Daniel, Fallguy, Ngoeser59 and myself were all in the primary chamber. 2. There were a few TGO shirts and one TFA shirt visible in our room. I noticed a few members of the TFA present, including John Harris and Bob Pope. 3. I saw no "incidents" 4. No protesters outside that I saw.

First and foremost, thanks to Ngoeser59, Daniel and Fallguy for coming out today. If there were other TGO members present, you guys must have been in the overflow room so please do not take this as an official tally of who was there and who wasn't. The bottom line is that the Court denied the motion for an injunction filed by all three groups of plaintiffs. So yes, at midnight tonight the new law goes into effect. HOWEVER... Chancellor Bonnyman did encourage both sides to revisit the issue in 90 days, passing the matter on as a cross-motion for examination on the basis that the new law might indeed be unconstitutional. So this may not be the last we will hear about whether or not HB0962 will remain a law.

TGO members should consider taking up a collection to pay his ticket for him.

Pocket carry might be a good option for you. A small J-frame revolver, perhaps.

TGO people, what say we meet up somewhere near the entrance to the courthouse proper... out on the sidewalk or something? Barring rain, in which case I'm going to suggest the lobby.

I'm still planning on being there. I have a meeting at 10:00 that should be done by 11:30. Provided that is the case, I intend to arrive at around 12:00 and will very likely be wearing my black TGO polo and khakis.

Yes. Unless you're Musicman... then you shoot everyone elses. (runs and hides)