ngoeser59

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My name is Nikki Goeser. I am here because I am at a point in my life where I need some support from like minded people. My husband "Ben" was shot and killed right infront of me on April 2, 2009. Murder Victim's Wife Speaks Out - NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - I am properly trained on how to shoot and I have a handgun carry permit but because of Tn State Law, I had to leave my weapon locked in my car the night my husband was murdered. I am furious with the law makers in the State of Tn. I hold them just as responsible as I do the man that shot the gun. I am here to give my husband a voice and to support the Restaurant Carry Bill that is awaiting Governor Phil Bredesen's signature. Had I been allowed to carry that night, I believe my husband would still be alive today. Ben & I had planned on having children soon. We had already bought a baby crib (it was on sale). I look at that crib everyday and it hurts more than anyone could ever imagine. Knowing what my life was going to be like and how very different it is now going to be without my husband. My house no longer has laughter but rather silence. I am forced to re-live this nightmare everyday when I wake up. This is something I would not wish on my worst enemy. I want something positive to come from Ben's death. I want others who are still alive today to remain LIVING. Ben bought me my handgun for my birthday last year. That gun should have saved his life. Bad guys don't care about the Law. Good citizens should be allowed to protect themselves and their family from these monsters that have evil intentions. I hope nobody ever has to go through what I am going through right now. Please call Governor Bredesen's office and let him know about Ben and that you support the Restaurant Carry Bill and you WANT HIM TO SIGN IT. I carry a Smith & Wesson .38 Airweight I also own a Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum Thank You, Nikki Goeser

I called today and told them I support the Restaurant Carry Bill and I hope Bredesen will sign it. They did not ask me anything, they just said okay and thanks. Keep calling guys.....it may make a huge impact. However, my guess is....Bredesen will NOT sign it. I bet he just lets it sit there and become law without and actual signature. I personally don't think he will veto it because if he does he is going to make more than a few people not happy with him and those are "voters" so I don't think he will go that route. I also don't think he will sign it for the same reason. He does not want to anger the democrats. It most likely will just fall into law for June 1st. That is going to be a "Great Day in Tennessee."

We have been advised by several sources and have confirmed that the Governor's office is keeping a "for/against" tally on the gun bill HB0962. It is important to call and to have everyone you know call. We need to send Bredesen a clear message that there are a significant number of voters who want to see this bill not just passed into law but SIGNED into law by him! There are many more gun bills to come down the path and it is important for him to hear from the voters and gun owners of Tennessee because if there are other bills that are closer, we need the extra push. The Governor can be reached by phone at (615)741-2001 or email Phil.Bredesen@tn.gov I CALLED AND TOLD THEM I WAS IN SUPPORT AND THEY ARE TAKING THE CALLS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND EMAILS

Well it's good to know I can carry one more place I thought that I couldn't....church. I had no idea. That makes me feel a whole lot better knowing I don't have to leave my gun in my car there. I really don't like doing that because of the whole "smash & grab" possibility. So I am hearing some people say you can carry in a bank and then others saying you cannot. Which is it? Only if it's posted? Is there an up to date website out there that gives all this information of where you can and cannot carry in the state of Tn? Most everything I know is what I learned in my handgun carry permit course. It was an all day course in a classroom the 1st day and then a day at the range. I also took an Intermediate shooting course and was involved in a Second Amendment Sisters Shooting Competition (I came in 3rd out of about 16). I am on the waiting list for an advanced shooting course. I am curious to know what all the advanced course will cover. I wish this law had passed a year ago. I really do. Ben & I would be trying to have a baby soon if he was here. We had planned on it. I had already bought a baby crib (I found one at a great deal) and went ahead and got it early. I see it and it makes me so sad. Knowing what my life would have been like with Ben and knowing now that it will never be what I wanted it to be. I go home to a house without laughter, no "hey babe! How was your day? I made ya' dinner!" It's just very quiet and very empty and very depressing. Not at all the way my life was before. Ben always loved TV Land shows like The Andy Griffith Show or The Wild Wild West. I used to poke fun at him for watching those shows (but I would sit and watch them with him), Now I would give anything in the world to watch Andy Griffith 24-7 if I had to. I would not wish this on my worst enemy.

My personal belief is that it is "not smart" to open carry anywhere (other than hunting of course). Number one, you don't want a "bad guy" to see you have a weapon because believe me....it will be their goal to take it from you and use it on others. If there are 3 bad guys that are all eyeballing your piece and only you with it on your hip....well.....that is an open invite to it being taken from you if you are not careful. Never give the bad guy the upper hand. I always carry concealed for that very reason. All it takes is you turning your head one time and not having control of your weapon in the open holster and......well, you could be dead and others could be dead. I am for conceal carry. It is for safety reasons. I also do not like the idea of leaving my gun locked in my car. Even though right now I don't really have a choice when it comes to certain places.....ex: Church, Schools, establishments that serve alcohol, state parks). If the gun is in the car then there is always the chance of a "smash & grab". I do not want to aid the bad guys in getting guns. I believe properly trained individuals that pass the background check and everything else that is required, should be able to carry in church, school,parks,& restaurants that serve alcohol. Gun free zones are killing zones. I just think we all should consider being very very mindful of our weapons and how we choose to carry and try to be responsible with our weapons so nobody gets a hold of it and uses it for something other than self defense.

I saw someone had mentioned Suzanna Hupp and the Luby's Cafeteria Incident. Suzanna called me about 9 days or so ago and we spoke for at least 30 minutes. I have since talked with her again. I first learned of Suzzana back when I got my handgun carry permit. It was recommended that I go online and look her story up. I remember thinking to myself......this woman has been through agony and hell and I just can't imagine.... Well, now I KNOW. Guys, it always happens to somebody else, that is what I used to think. Now it has happened to me. I will NOT SHUT UP ABOUT THIS. This is not about me. This is about innocent people's lives. This is about stopping these monsters that intentionally kill good people. I know there are some people out there that should NOT have a gun. But guess what......Bad guys are going to get them. They will. We have to have enough GOOD GUYS out there where the bad guys will think twice. Also, one really incredible thing about this law is......if enough good people who are properly trained are out there, then the few people that do not exactly follow the law can be "watched" by those of us that do. Consider it "mentor" work. If you see somebody drinking and they have a weapon.....call the police on them. Good people can help regulate and watch those few that "just don't get it". They will be weeded out. I personally do not believe there will be many. The law WILL WORK. It is already in place right now in other states and IT WORKS. I also read that there are some states that allow you to carry even if you are drinking.....and there have been very minimal problems. I do not believe alcohol and guns mix but I can tell you.....even if I am sitting at home having a glass or two of wine, I am NOT going to go meet the guy at my front door and shoot him. Not unless he has a gun pointed at me or he is breaking in my home and has a foot in the door. Let's be sensible about all this. The people that do the crimes are THE BAD GUYS not the GOOD GUYS. A good guy that has had a beer does not really scare me. It's the sober Bad Guy that scares me. So how do you know the good guys from the bad guys? Well, have enough good guys out there and the bad guys will stay away. Unless of course they are on a suicide mission, in that case, maybe a good guy can take him down before he proceeds to kill an additional 15 people. Enough said on that for now......

Here is the email I sent Scott today...... Scott, I saw your news broadcast regarding "Bullets in Bars" and I would like to give you my point of view as I have first hand knowledge about the situation and understand the gravity of it all. I am Nicole Goeser. The widow of Benjamin Felix Goeser. Please read....... The current legislation before the state of Tennessee is vital to the safety of its citizens. My husband Ben Goeser was murdered right infront of me on April 2nd 2009 at Jonny's Sports Bar in the Nashville area. If I could have been allowed to carry my gun that night (because I do have a permit) perhaps I could have saved him. I can tell you that the odds would have been more in our favor. People that have gone through PROPER TRAINING, A COMPLETE BACKGROUND CHECK, registered their weapon and have the permit should be allowed to carry a concealed gun for their own protection and protection of loved ones as long as they are NOT under the influence of alcohol. Just remember....when seconds count, the police are minutes away. The police got to the sports bar just in enough time to find my husband dead on the floor and me holding his head which was soaked in blood. Please understand, Bad guys don't care about Laws. Let good citizens have the ability to protect themselves and their families from evil individuals with horrible intentions. I never want anyone I love to be a target again. Never again. Proper training is key. Properly trained individuals will not take a risky shot and act irresponsibly, if they do and someone innocent is hurt or killed, they will face justice for it. However, I would like to point out that less than 1% of any gun crimes are ever committed by a permitted individual. Let's face it, look at the DC gun death rate, it is one of the HIGHEST in the country. How can that be if strict gun laws keep us safe? Guns don't kill people, people kill people. There are people that die in car accidents everyday and nobody has ever said "Let's get rid of the cars! Nobody should drive a car even if they have a license!". Putting blame on the gun and preventing good citizens that have a carry permit from protecting themselves only makes innocent people "helpless" and at the mercy of the bad guy. Imagine for one moment the person you love the most in life and imagine that person gunned down infront of you at an O'Charleys or a Ruby Tuesday or a Buffalo Wild Wings. Now imagine that you have a carry permit but because of Tn State Law you have to leave your gun locked in your car. You would have to live with that for the rest of your life. Knowing that you could have saved them but was legislated out of your right to do so. Please be more responsible with your reporting. This Gun Bill is NECESSARY. I know. http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=10123881 Sincerely, Nicole Renee' Goeser

I sent that reporter Scott Madaus, (scott.madaus@foxtv.com) an email asking him to be more responsible in his reporting and gave him my view of why the Restaurant Carry Bill is necessary. I have first hand knowledge of how important it is. My wonderful husband is dead because of the killer and because of poor legislation. Perhaps Mr. Madaus would like to do a follow-up report now that he has heard from me. He should.

I am Nicole Goeser. The widow of Benjamin Felix Goeser. Please read....... The current legislation before the state of Tennessee is vital to the safety of its citizens. My husband Ben Goeser was murdered right infront of me on April 2nd 2009 at Jonny's Sports Bar on Nolensville Road in the Nashville Tn area. Please contact your State Representatives including Governor Phil Bredesen, and tell them about what happened to Ben. If I could have been allowed to carry my gun that night (because I do have a permit) perhaps I could have saved him. I can tell you that the odds would have been more in our favor. People that have gone through PROPER TRAINING, A COMPLETE BACKGROUND CHECK, registered their weapon and have the permit should be allowed to carry a concealed gun for their own protection and protection of loved ones as long as they are NOT under the influence of alcohol. Just remember....when seconds count, the police are minutes away. Bad guys don't care about Laws. Let good citizens have the ability to protect themselves and their families. I never want anyone I love to be a target again. Never again. Proper training is key. Properly trained individuals will not take a risky shot and act irresponsibly, if they do and someone innocent is hurt or killed, they will face justice for it. I would like to point out that less than 1% of any gun crimes are ever committed by a permitted individual. Let's face it, look at the DC gun death rate, it is one of the HIGHEST in the country. How can that be if strict gun laws keep us safe? Please, help me wake these lawmakers up. I need your help. If there is anything you can do for me....please do this. Do this for Ben. http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=10123881 Sincerely,