macville

I know that writing Haslam is like writing a brick wall. One, because probably an intern reads it and files it in a category without it ever being passed on to him, and two, because be probably couldn't/wouldn't want come up with a honest, intellectual reply. However, I did it anyway for some stress relief and to try and make our Constitution heard, known, and followed.   "Governor Haslam, reading an article today that quoted you about the legal guns in parks bill has me wondering if you actually know what our State Constitution says about what laws can be enacted to restrict carrying guns.   Our Constitution states about arms, ""That the citizens of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.” (Even though I think it’s important, I am not going to into the fact that the last part was only added in 1870 to restrict black people after the civil war because the “whites only” provision of the 1834 constitution would have been struck down.) One comment you made was that you believed the local governments should hold the power to decide about legal carry in their parks. However, the Constitution clearly states that only the Legislature how the power the regulate the wearing of arms, not local governments. Allowing local governments any regulation in the wearing is a direct violation of this. Any control the legislature gives local governments in regulating wearing of arms exceeds the the power granted the legislature.   Second, the Constitution only allows for regulation of wearing of arms “with a view to prevent crime.” Tennessee Permit holders have gone through a written test, shooting test, and background checks to prove they are not criminals. How in your mind does the Constitution allow the government to restrict the carry of people who have overwhelmingly proven they are law abiding?  Even if you went only off the TDOS carry permit yearly report of revoked permits you would see that it’s about a tenth of one percent of permits are revoked a year. Of that, less than half are because of criminal convictions and maybe one or two a year are because of actual crime committed with a gun. So I want to know why you think a group of people who are typically more law abiding than the police when it comes to guns (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/02/24/guns-and-new-york-times-why-shouldnt-americans-be-able-to-defend-themselves/) need to be prevented from carrying pretty much anywhere in TN? What evidence can you show that permit holders are going to commit crimes if they are allowed in all local owned parks in TN? Or in the State Capital? Or even, God forbid, schools! I believe you owe all TN permit holders an honest answer to that questions since we have proven we aren’t criminals and history says we probably won’t be i the future."

I am planning on going Friday.

So back on topic here, the NRA is saying Bridgestone prohibits carry (note that they don't say posted) but Music City hall is okay. What is being held in Bridgestone? I can't find anything that's taking place in there, it all seems to be in Music City.

 Considering some of the cases lately, I don't take anything for granted.

  I doubt that would fly in a court of law if a lawyer pressed it. You would have to have proof that you offered instruction each semester via a lesson plan which was submitted to the place which you were registered at for homeschooling. While I agree with you about the letter of the law, you would need proof to get off is some jerk decides to push it. Considering how many jerks there out there these days, I really think this should be fixed. I mean, what about all the homeschoolers that don't even know that law and are currently breaking it?   BTW, I was homeschool as my dad was a public school teacher and saw how bad it already was even in the 90's.

    That doesn't matter. The law doesn't differentiate between public and private schools. Homeschool is considered private school in TN. A strict reading of the law would imply that we are not allowed to have weapons (not just guns) in general in our homes if you homeschool. Honestly, that may be a good starting point to sue over the school laws because that would fail the "with a view to prevent crime" test that is the only thing our constitution allows for restricting arms. The fact that they TOTALLY ignore that part of the constitution is what bothers me most. That should have been brought up by Casada in that article with the reporter interview (or by the interviewer) but it's like they don't even have a clue it says that!!!

With friends like this: http://wate.com/2015/04/02/tenn-gop-leader-1-time-school-use-enough-to-ban-guns-in-parks/   What kind of moron is Casada? If this logic was applied then ANY place that allowed school groups to come in could post also...like state parks! I doubt even our idiot AG would agree with this thinking because it's a gross misreading of the school "use".

Okay, so it's being reported that it passed the house today: http://www.wbir.com/story/news/2015/03/30/house-passes-guns-in-parks-bill/70697230/

  This is the problem. I feel like the NRA has somewhat ignored TN now that we have a republican super majority. It's like they think they will automatically vote for restoring our gun rights. Yet, as we've seen from the past few years, and especially this year, that's simply not the case. The NRA needs to be breathing down the necks of our legislators since obviously they don't listen to us or read our constitution. I would love to see a one strike and you're out threat from the NRA. One bad vote and they will work hard against you. But having balls would help and GOA is far better about that then the NRA...and again I say this as a lifetime NRA member.

  You should shop at Kroger because the prices are some of the best, their store brands are really good, and shopping experience is pretty good (at least at the two Krogers near me in West Knoxville.) Considering that there are employees that have been at the main one I shop at since I was a kid (33 in a month), they tend to hold on to their employees and the employees have become friends. Certainly the most, "small store" experience I get anywhere I shop besides really old small stores. Plus, they have always been really gun friendly.

So here is the article: http://patriotoutdoornews.com/13465/nra-made-348-million-in-the-surge-year   Seems like we (I am a life member) have plenty of money to start a crap load of lawsuits to get laws back in line with the Constitution. We really need to focus many challenges at the state level because we are only going to get so far with the current Supreme court.

  This is SO true. We had all these rights until post civil war, so in reality we are restoring rights, not expanding gun rights-which is an oxymoron because rights are rights, if you expand them, you didn't have the rights in the first place.

  I am fine with him not signing it. I don't want someone, who obviously can't understand either the state or federal constitution, to have their signature on a constitutional law. Just taints the whole thing. However, I do believe when it goes to his desk, we need to bombard his office with emails saying that people who have passed tests and background checks obviously are not going to be one committing crimes and our constitution only allows for restricting carry with "a view to prevent crime." Therefore, any restrictions on people who aren't going to commit crimes (and the HCP Yearly reports prove that) is unconstitutional.   I honestly believe getting government officials, and people in general, to understand that the words "a view to prevent crime" are in our constitution is a huge step. It makes their arguments much more difficult when they are faced with that and have to give an answer why proven law abiding citizens would commit crimes .

  That is a huge question I have. How is it legal to change a record that is supposed to record what they did????

  Why would everyone who's paid the $10 for a TN background check not have standing? My argument would be that it's no different than a poll tax, which was found unconstitutional in 1966. I would almost say that the $10 fee would be an easier case to sue over than the ammo tax, but that's because there's probably more legal precedent. Although.  I believe that "precedent" is one of the reasons our legal systems is in shambles. The courts are more concerned about precedent than what the Constitution, laws, and original intent actually say.   And while it would be good to eliminate the $10, I am aiming more at the "with a view to prevent crime" part of the Constitution. I think laws against school carry, parks, 1359 posting law, etc. are ripe to be picked apart now with around 20 years of permit holders being 99.99999% lawful that obviously restrictions on them would not fall under a "view to prevent crime." Secure areas of jails or prisons are the only place that make any sense to be off limits.   Matthew

So this session of our legislature has shown that hardly anyone in our legislature understands what "with a view to prevent crime" means. $750 for a lifetime carry permit that's suppose to be a right. Ignoring constitutional carry, etc. Has it come to the point where we need to start getting funds together to start suing over the unconstitutional laws that we currently have?   Matthew

We are starting our third year with season passes and my wife and twin 4 year old daughters love it. It's an hour from our house in Knoxville, so on weekdays when I am not working we will take a vacation day (I'm the boss so hey!) and spend a day up there.   There really are rides for everyone. We start when our girls first turned two and now (because I am freakishly tall) can ride everything except the really big coasters. It really does have something for everyone. It's very country, but in a good way. And the workers are super nice. You just don't really meet any grumpy employees.   It can be pricy going for just a day, but the season passes for my wife (gold and regular) come out to $200 for the year...plus since we renewed our passes before our girls turned 4 they get it free all year (yeah, we called twice to confirm that because that was the craziest thing we've ever heard.) With a gold pass we get 20% off food, so when we eat in the park, it's really not any more than a moe's or other higher end counter food. But often times we just sneak sammies into the park. You're not supposed to (unlike disney that doesn't care as long as you don't bring in coolers or glass bottles) but employees have seen us and not said anything.   If you go, get the cinnamon bread at the grist mill. it's the best thing in the park and super good when it's cold outside.

Basically, it makes the posting law clearer. This is a waste of time bill that needs to die because it really doesn't help us. The constitution says 1359 is illegal, I do not understand what our officials can't understand simple english.

I've got Leprechaun snow here in Knoxville...

If perception is reality like the page says, why can you just stick your hand around your back like you are pulling your gun? That would save money having to buy this...

See if you can find the head of the academy's speech she gave about "everyone having the right to be heard." Both my wife and I started laughing and commented that "everyone" just means people on their left side of the isle.   BTW, I have done film work before for Octavia Spencer and she is the real deal. Really cool, down to earth woman. So it was fun to see her get singled out.

Still confused where in the constitution it says rights are not unlimited... I understand what they mean by that, but that's the excuse that we see used to totally trample on it by vaguely following it. Words mean what they say...unless they are in the constitution.

  Well, I just emailed Womick a question about the HCP part of the bill and then a long comment laying out why I believe 1359 in it's entirety is unconstitutional. I also mentioned that 1309 (schools) would fall under the same argument because the laws don't seem to prevent school shootings. We will see if I get an answer.

I figure it can't be too bad of a bill when the first thing is constitutional carry! (and of any weapon too!)   The school section allows for carry in private schools automatically, but the board of private schools can elect to ban.   Totally deletes banning legally carried guns in parks   State totally takes over regulating arms and weapons-including discharging.   It does mess with the handgun carry permit that may affect it negatively with regards to reciprocity (sounds like it eliminates testing)   Lowers HCP fee to $50. Doesn't remove -1359 posting law. Does clarify it some though. Doesn't allow state or local gov to post their buildings except through a process that shows citizens need to be disarmed for everyone's safety (doubt this would pass constitutional muster, but better than what we have today.) I would say this whole section needs to go and -1359 just needs to totally disappear.   Clears up some carrying a handgun while bow hunting.     Except for the possible changes to the HCP which could lose us reciprocity in some states and the fact that -1359 still exists with this bill, it's a fantastic bill that needs to be passed.  

Let's see how smart you all are on here, because the people I've been debating at one of the news websites don't understand how you calculate things.   So which way are you supposed to calculate the rate....   16,000 applied for assistance and were asked if they had done drugs in the past 3 months, failed a job drug test in the past three months, or had been to court over a drug issue. If "yes" to then you had to take a drug test.   279 people were drug tested. 37 failed.   Do you divide 37 by 16,000 or 279?