cybernorris

After reading the TNews article, I think we need to politely point out to Alderman Mathis that the Attorney General, in Opinion No. 09-129, has addressed the issue of schools using athletic fields in public parks where carry is legal. I know that the acting City Attorney referenced this AG opinion during the work session. I hope that Alderman Mathis has not yet had the opportunity to put together his concern about the baseball stadium and that opinion. Here is the AG opinion. Second school carry is generally prohibited under 39-17-1309 which in part states: © (1) It is an offense for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, any firearm, not used solely for instructional or school-sanctioned ceremonial purposes, in any public or private school building or bus, on any public or private school campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field or any other property owned, used or operated by any board of education, school, college or university board of trustees, regents or directors for the administration of any public or private educational institution.

TNews posted their article on the issue online: http://www.tullahomanews.com/news/view_sections.asp?idcategory=49&idarticle=8220

I attended the board meeting and work session tonight. The good news is they appear to be taking no action on the issue, which means Tullahoma will be allowing permitted carry in the parks. There does not appear to be enough support for opting out at this time. BTW, all members of the board commented that practically every email they had received was against opting out. More on that later. Here's the rundown on how the issue stands with the individual members of the board (as I can recall without having taken notes): Mayor Bisby: Initial thought was no way, but upon consideration sees it as a rights issue. I believe he mentioned toward the end how little difference there is between a playground at a fast food restaurant and a playground in a city park. Mayor Pro Temp Mike Norris: Has personal feelings toward opting out, but very impressed with the overwhelming public sentiment he had received and would likely vote against opting out because of that feedback. Alderman James Eads: Comments were significantly Pro-2nd Amendment and pro-HCP. Eads did suggest he would take the HCP course if the City paid for it. Alderman Jerry Mathis: Note he is the athletic director at THS and on the TSSAA's Board of Control. Mathis expressed the liberal viewpoint of 2A as only for militia. He suggested what I interpret as a wild fear-mongering suggestion that the H.S. baseball and other school sports teams would not be able to play on the athletic fields that are part of the City parks. Mathis presented this wild scenario where a confrontation occurs and a child is killed. We must agree to disagree. Alderman Mike Stanton: A bright spot, Stanton started out absolutely for opting out, but with constituent communication and some research is considering the issue seriously. He is not personally experienced with or even comfortable around guns. He's also taking information from the Brady Campaign. But he has apparently not decided which way he would vote. He did produce something with some statistic of the number of permit carriers in the country who have killed police officers and private citizens. He also mentioned Brady's ranking TN low in having strong gun laws. Alderman Jimmy Blanks: While not appearing to be anti-2A or anti-HCP, he is against anyone other than police having guns in parks. He made that position public during a campaign debate a few months ago and might be merely standing on that position. Blanks did comment that his wife does not agree with this position. He also commented that he was contacted by a national lobby group and may think legitimate constituent communication is part of some organized outside effort. Has taken the HCP course, but does not show up in the Commercial Appeal database. Alderman Greg Sandlin: Definitely pro-2A and pro-HCP. Has taken the HCP course and is listed in the Commercial Appeal database as a current HCP holder. FYI, the City Administrator is an employee of the City and does not have a vote. ***** Please thank each individual for expressing their service and for expressing their opinions. Mayor Bisby, Alderman Eads and Alderman Sandlin deserve thanks and encouragement for their position. Alderman Norris deserves thanks and encouragement for hearing the voice of his constituents. Alderman Stanton deserves thanks and encouragement for his research and open mind on the issue. He might be open to evidence that the Brady Campaign is not a reliable source of information on the subject. Alderman Mathis deserves thanks for his service and polite encouragement. I will be pointing out that his fear of the schools not having a place for athletics is unfounded. The acting City Attorney pointed out that state law already prohibits firearms at school athletic events. Also note that the City considers Frazier McEwen Park, the Rock Creek Greenway, the baseball stadium as well as the ROTC and practice fields across the creek as one parcel.. which might also include the high school and football stadium. One possible interpretation of the State law about firearms at school athletic events mentioned tonight was during a sporting event, it might be illegal to have a firearm in ANY of the park area... not just within the confines of say the baseball stadium. So unless something changes, Tullahoma will not opt out of the State law allowing guns in parks. Thanks to the dozen or so people who showed up tonight to show and voice their support. I also appreciate the one person who showed up against the issue.

I don't want people to show up with talking points ... I want people to speak from their hearts about why more than criminals should be allowed to carry guns. Oh yeah, now that the City's property around the Short Springs Nature Area is going to be designated as "green space" ... next they will want to make it a park... which will really confuse the issue out there since carry is already allowed in the Nature Area.

Tullahoma is considering this issue tomorrow.

I used to work for a couple of ABC affiliates. It was interesting how frequently the information they sent on the affiliate wire didn't match with what they included in the network newscasts.

It's not guns, but I shoot cameras professionally. Last year I got bifocal contacts, but have not been that happy with distance vision. Last week I had my annual exam and we confirmed something I had kinda noticed before. I primarily use my right eye fir distance vision and left eye for close up. Possibly I trained myself to do this from tears of videography and still photography. Anyway, I now have a standard soft lens in the right so I get the best possible vision for photography and the left has a bifocal lens.

Ok, continuing this thread off topic a bit ... the Pizza Hut web site says I am 2.86 miles from their location .. but they still won't deliver. I tried contacting their corporate office, but have received no response. Ok, back to the topic at hand... gonna try to see Al tomorrow or Wednesday.

Dang, I've been contemplating selling my never-used generator.

I searched for "handgun permit" and found 106 articles... none of which included any reference to any restaurant shooting. There were two incidents of a shooting involving a handgun permit carrier... one in a park and one at a gas station.

Sent an email to KnoxNews asking for verification of the statement attributed to them. Would be interesting that, if true, all incidents occurred in restaurants that did not serve alcohol. It would make his assertion completely irrelevant. It might also explain why a search of KnoxNews.com couldn't find the info and why it was never brought forward against the new law.

Jumping in with a late welcome!

Bumping an old thread for the beauty of the knives!

Awesome! I guess I'll be dropping by sometime midweek. BTW, Pizza Hut won't deliver to my home inside the Tullahoma city limits... so I can't provide the pizza boxes.

Anyone else notice that they're not doing their campaign in TN? I definitely feel safer now!

Umm... it was always squirrel season in my grandfather's back yard. Oh yeah, he lived in Knoxville!

When this comes up, we need to remind them that one "city park" is already open to licensed handgun carry. Short Springs Natural Resource Area is co-managed by the City of Tullahoma. However as a State Natural Area, it is covered by State law, not the whims of the city.

If you have a bit of patience, Guntroll is a gunsmith and veteran who just moved from Colorado to the Coopertown area last week or so. I don't know if he's found a job here yet and might appreciate the opportunity to get in some work.

Challenge the charge via the bank... they will investigate... and should send you a new card. A typical behavior with a stolen CC number is to make a small charge to test, then proceed to bigger charges if unchallenged.

Hurrah! Tullahoma picked up a pro-gun Alderman in Greg Sandlin.

I've had a couple of Wally World pizzas. They're not Papa Murphy's, but they're certainly better than frozen. BTW, empty pizza boxes make excellent targets!

Pizza party! Empty pizza boxes make excellent targets!

I lived in the anti-gun climate of Wisconsin for eleven years without any time on the range. Both the Browning BDA .380 and Taurus PT-22 sat largely untouched in a case with loaded clips. At least one spare clip was also stored full of rounds. I cleaned them a few times during this period of exile and probably emptied and reloaded the clips as well. Earlier this year I finally got them out and did some range time. I have had no problems with either weapon or any of the clips. Oh yeah, I've also been shooting ammo that is 10-15 years old with no problems either.

Fingers crossed!