billyblazes

Although I wear ear protection with any assault on my hearing such as using power equipment, shooting, or being around sirens, I never use earbuds/headphones when I am out of the house exercising or otherwise. The only time the earbuds are used is when I’m in the comfort and relative security of my recliner. I often wonder how many of the females in the news who are accosted while jogging/walking have had earbuds or similar in place?

Agreed wholeheartedly! This is the one reason I would encourage open carry. It would take a lot of participants though to move the needle.

Seems most commenting are of the same mindset that the inconspicuous nature of concealed carry has many attributes over open carry. No argument from me there. I still find it odd though that there’s not more local people open carrying just because they can with the same mindset as the Florida zealots I know who are envious of the states allowing open carry. I can’t believe everybody is as refined as the rest of us on the advantages of concealed over open carry

Darrell, I find your last sentence to be spot on! It’s almost comical, when friends who are visiting me choose to open carry just because they can while in Tennessee and cannot do it in their home state of Florida. I’m always quick to tell them that their OWB full-size 1911 better not be messing up my leather upholstery.

I have several friends in Florida who often ask me why open carry is not practiced more in Tennessee. What's your thoughts as to why open carry is not exercised regularly by more people? To elaborate, these Florida friends are 2A enthusiasts who are frustrated that despite Florida being referred to as the "Gunshine State," open carry is legally allowed under only a very narrow set of circumstances. Every year these 2A enthusiasts petition their State legislators to pass a bill allowing for open carry as so many states have, but it never goes anywhere. In a type of protest which they claim is educate the public, but I feel is also to poke the bear, some of the enthusiasts push the intended limits of the narrow set of circumstances allowing for open carry in Florida. The Armed Fisherman (Soloyaker) on You Tube is a prime example. I'm familiar with the arguments of why many feel concealed carry is the smarter option over open carry. When Florida friends ask me why I personally don't open carry here in TN where I'm allowed to do so on a daily basis, I tell them honestly that it's a pain for me to open carry. For me, open carry is uncomfortable when seated in my automobiles. That is because I carry a larger gun than I do when concealed carrying. Wearing the OWB holster on my hip does not work well with the seats in my autos as a smaller CCW gun does in appendix position. Also, carrying a larger frame gun when open carrying drags down my pants no matter how good of a belt I use. In addition, I prefer not to call attention to myself, which I feel open carry does even in a state such as TN. Some of the friends also don't grasp that no gun signs carry the weight of law in TN in a way that signs don't in Florida. Regardless, when I think about it I too am surprised that as I go about my daily stuff in TN and travel often to NC, GA, and AL, I go weeks and weeks, often many months, without seeing a single person open carrying. Does everybody avoid it for the same reasons I do? Does everyone feel concealed is smarter than OC despite all of the 2A enthusiasts in FL clamoring for open carry? Am I just not aware or am I in the wrong places to see open carry happening here?

Wife and I need to obtain TN Enhanced Concealed Carry permits. We're in Dellrose. Fayetteville is closest place of any size, but we can head in the other direction to Pulaski. We really don't need instruction on firearms or the law, we just need to jump through whatever hoops will get this done. Any suggestions of who to contact in our area?

When my son was a toddler he liked the Rescue Heroes cartoon and action figures. The firefighter who was the chief of the Rescue Heroes was named Billy Blazes. Me being a firefighter and my son loving the Rescue Heroes, Billy Blazes became my nom de plume

I wish the best for your daughter and your family. My mom, admittedly older than your daughter, has dealt with breast cancer on two different occasions roughly 4 years apart. She's now 83 years old and doing pretty well. Likely due to genetics, I, a male, carry the breast cancer blood marker. For obvious reasons, I'm concerned about my daughter in her 20's. Cancer Sucks!!!!

Great information. I'm happy to learn the State holds preemption in this area to prevent the patchwork of local laws. I did not think that was the case. I was under the false impression local municipalities could implement a wide array of their own ordinances as they pleased in this regard. If only this same preemption applied to the use of the firearms, specifically one State law with regards to recreational discharge of firearms. No more checking with local LEO's, who as often as not misapply a statute, as to whether discharge is legal or not in a particular location.

Thank you for all the feedback. Looks like it’s about 15 minutes to Paris, which apparently is the closest place to receive real mention on a map. Blows my mind that Paris is a county seat and yet has only slightly over 10,000 for population. I am used to much more populated areas, but I want to get away from populated areas. The rub is I still like my conveniences close. I’m already learning that I may have difficulty finding trades people as may be needed for repairs or renovations.

Sometimes nothing bad is good

Can anyone tell me about Springville over by Paris? The good, bad, and the ugly please. I may be moving over in that area.

As far as Florida goes, things would be better if the State exercised preemption in regards to knives as they do firearms.

You ask about other states. I can share what I know about Florida and butterfly knives. In Florida a butterfly knife is not considered a "common pocketknife." That means it is illegal to conceal a butterfly knife in Florida without a concealed carry weapons permit. Even with the CCW license, the State of Florida does not have preemption over municipalities with regard to knives as they do with firearms. That means a local city or county can pass their own ordinance, unlike the case with firearms for which the State of Florida maintains all rule making authority. I have no idea how the pending legislation which is about to become law regarding permit-less concealed carry may affect this area of the law. Will being able to soon carry a handgun without a permit in Florida translate into being able to also carry a concealed knife that previously required a permit? I read of a lot of problems with the wording of the legislation. Time will tell.

My choice would be concrete slab on grade with overhead plumbing. Having experienced in-slab plumbing failures and needing to re-pipe the house from the attic, that's the way I would start.