victorcharlie

I bought a 1000 pieces a few months back and paid $60 for them locally.

You are correct sir, my point is to tell the TWRA officer which DA you spoke with and the fact that the DA stated it was legal and would not be prosecuted. IMO we have way to many liberals running the National Park service, Forestry Department, and TWRA. Next thing you know there going to tell us animals have rights, or something ridiculous like that.

Call the local DA's office, he's the one that's going to prosecute, not the TWRA.

I know the name is funny but the catfish and fried dill pickles are quite good IMO.

Any idea why my paragraphs don't format correctly? Also, I can't get colors to change and that makes the send/receive of the body hard to follow. I apologize for the formatting but for the life of me can't figure out how to correct it.

Here is the response, both of the request and reply. It is a go, I have spoke with TWRA supervisors, and reviewed what federal law we have and there are no prohibitions on the forest. There are prohibitions in our buildings just like Post Offices and other federal buildings. But the forest is open to concealed carry permit holders. I haven't found anything again on the ammo in the gun being against federal law either. I will continue searching and will advise if I find anything that contradicts the state law that pertains to National Forest Lands, Again only the Federal Buildings are people prohibited to carry in. I appreciate you looking into this for me. Is it okay to post this on the Tennessee gun owner’s forum and a couple of other outdoor forums that I read and post on? Again, thanks for the effort, it’s much appreciated. Yea thats fine just dont reference my name, In order for us to be part of any interview/media type forum it has to go through our Public Affairs Officer. If you want, I can get you in touch with him that way you could reference the Forest Service. So, should I, or rather, one of the moderators, ask for the contact for the public affairs officer? I respect this mans candor and will not compromise on his request, but I do understand we all would like an offical response. How should I proceed with this?

I have received a response via email from my leo acquaintance from the Cherokee National forest. Handgun carry is a go in the Cherokee. You may not carry in forest service (federal)buildings, but carry permit holders are allowed to carry in the forest. As far as the bill to carry a loaded long gun, his reply states there is no federal law to prevent it either. He indicated he also checked with the TWRA as well. I have responded to him and asked his permission to post the text of his email on this forum and out of courtesy to him I will wait on his reply before posting the complete text of his reply. So, the state district attorneys office says it's okay, and now the feds say it's okay.

I haven't heard a thing from my guy either. I have a feeling the powers to be are putting there heads together.

It sure sounds like it's unconstitutional to me, but unfortunately I lack the legal mind and the funds required to push this through the courts. We complain about activist judges legislating from the bench and then give alphabet agencies the authority that has been delegated to the legislature. IMO, it's like a fourth branch of government that assumes the powers of the other three branches.

So, special orders can circumvent law? That's pretty broad authority IMO. Under who's authority do they assume this power?

I just got off the phone with Mr. Robinson at the district attorney Generals office in Cleveland TN. Mr. Robinson is the assistant district attorney who prosecutes cases from Polk County TN, the southern end of the Cherokee National Forest. I hope I articulate aspects of our conversation correctly. Mr. Robinson was not aware of the recent change in the law but after reviewing HB0961 informed me that the state of Tennessee would not prosecute nor would TWRA or local law enforcement issue any citation of a lawfully permitted handgun carry holder in possession of a firearm in a WMA. Mr. Robinson indicated his office had no authority in regard to federal law, and that federal law still applied. I am still waiting for a phone call or email back from my acquaintance who is the Leo representing the National Forest Service, but his initial response a couple of days ago was that he was not aware of any federal law or special order that prohibited possession in the National Forest. I would suggest that other members call the DA's office and verify that they receive the same answer I was given.

Well, as of now, I think you are allowed to carry. The new law is just slow to trickle out. My guess is it's up to the local DA. Maybe we should be contacting the DA's office rather than the leo's? I think I'll call the DA tomorrow. Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference - 10th Judicial District

What happened? Lot of people are without a job right now, myself included. Why would you think you have a case?

Without a doubt the forest service has it's share of liberals. I stopped by the Cleveland office a couple of years ago and talked to the receptionist. She couldn't tell me how she hoped they never allowed guns in the forest and didn't understand why anyone would possibly want one. I finally got the the supervisor over law enforcement and talked with him for a few minutes, face to face. He was IMO a little negative about it, but not totally against it, but pretty much towed the state law line. My understanding is that he's retired now. Hopefully someone, possibly me, will get a better answer in the near future.

I told Susan Smith to give Zach a message for me, that I would not support him in the primary. However, if he made it to the general election I would probably vote for him. What's your opinion of Susan Smith? She's running for the seat Zach is leaving, and I'm kind of liking her opinion. One question I asked her was "When are the Republicans going to start acting like Republicans?"

Well this guy is definitely for us. Lets hope that is doesn't come to this.

I think the legislation is so new that most of the agencies are not aware of it. In regard to the Cherokee, I called a National forest leo that I met at the local Sportsman's Warehouse. I emailed him the links to the legislation and he told me he would push them up to his supervisors and let me know what the official position was going to be. From his point of view, there is not any federal law or special order that would prevent handgun carry in the Cherokee, and said that state law was what has been preventing this. He told me he would contact the TWRA as well as the National Park Service and respond back to me in a few days. I let him know that I posted on several forums and that many people are waiting to find out how the law will be interpreted. Hopefully, we'll get a better read of the situation soon.

ALLRIGHT!!!!! Now if some bureaucrat at the Cherokee National Parks office doesn't interfere then all is well!

Still nothing. I guess no news is good news huh?

The drama is killing me.

Have you considered shooting lead bullets? I'm buying 230 grain LRN from the Missouri Bullet Company for $39 a 500. I still load JHP's, but shoot lead.

I really like the Chattanooga Sportsman's Warehouse. It seems stores such as these have a hard time surviving in Chattanooga, and I certainly hope the Sportsman's Warehouse makes it through these tough economic times.

It looks like this one went to the governor on 6-30. The wife and I just got home from backpacking in the N. Georgia Cohutta's. I'll be a happy man when I can protect myself and my family in the woods and forest of Tennessee.

Is the speaker available to sign it? I mean, I thought the legislature is out of session now.

In a lot of the country National Forest land is open to such activities. The fact that it's a WMA probably excludes indiscriminate target practice. However, I do agree with you.