Worriedman

Don't bother attempting to contact Ms. Jackson, either by phone or e-mail, you'll just waste your time. The regulatory process expressly forbids EPA to consider any comment, petition or letter on a requested or proposed rulemaking that isn't submitted through the docket process. Be aware that this is simply a petition for EPA to consider, it's not a rulemaking in and of itself, nor even a proposed rule. Here is the petition and attachement: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/chemtest/pubs/ABC%20Lead%20petition%20cover%20letter%2008%2003%202010.pdf http://www.epa.gov/oppt/chemtest/pubs/Petition%20Attachment.pdf EPA acknowledged receiving the petition on August 18: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/chemtest/pubs/EPA%20Letter%20of%20Receipt_Pb%20sec%2021%20petition_8.18.10.pdf Here's the link to submit a comment directly: Regulations.gov Or you can go to <!-- w -->www.regulations.gov<!-- w --> and enter the search term "EPA-HQ-OPPT-2010-0681"

In the Constitution, there is only this relative to religion, Article VI decries a prohibition on religious tests as a condition for holding public office. In the Bill of Rights however, The First Amendment prohibits the federal government from making a law "respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". And that bunch of extremist from the Westboro Baptist Church who picket the funerals of our fallen soldiers deserve exactly the same protection from the government on their actions that the Muslims do on this issue. The Imam who is pushing this is a Wahabist, and Islam is a theocracy, not a religion. Sharia Law lies in the wake of this dreadnought.

JayC, I agree with your logic completely, I guess I made my point poorly. I think Obama's push to make sure it gets built as a exactly the wrong thing to do. I do think his support of it is in the best interest of the country, as it tears the veil, and shows what his intentions truly are. I have no problem with the free exercise of Religion, but placing a standard of conquest on the site of Ground Zero is a different thing entirely. Let the People handle it, keep the Feds out completely.

And Catholics and Protestants have the same right. What would be the result if the Para's blew up Notre Dame and purchased some part of the ruins and wanted to build a Presbyterian Church on the site of Touchdown Jesus? It would be legal, but would it be prudent?

In a personal interview with McWherter in front of 40+ people at the Old Country Store in Jackson last June: 1. Stated his belief that gun registration was a necessity, (Quote, "How else can the Police keep up with gun crime") and honestly believed it was in force in TN, as he informed us his new "Judge" was registered when he purchased it. 2. Stated his support of Obama Care. 3. Believes the various States have no standing to initiate the various Firearms Freedom Acts. Actually stated that the BATFE had already declared the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act as Unconstitutional, even though he is a lawyer, and should know that SCOTUS has that position and responsibility. 4. Would have vetoed the Guns in Restaurants Bill. 5. Would have vetoed the Carry in Parks Bill.

Yeah, early as well, as Old Goat and I work for the same outfit, we all knew we would be out of town.

Guess I should consider my self lucky. I enjoy the position of being the Co. Armorer as well as designated carry guy. When we do a sales call, the Owner of my firm always ask if I am armed when we head out, just to be sure.

I do know that we need to re-assert our Rights as granted by both the Federal and State Constitutions. I also know that they have been infringed. It is up to the individual Citizens to take steps to restore them.

Tennessee does not totally ignore the Right, the Legislature has Powers granted by the People to regulate the wearning of arms with a view to prevent crime. Any person who is not precluded by law, i.e. convicted felons, the mentally challenged, those convicted of DUI infractions, and those who refuse to honor their obligations to their children or are under orders of a court can, if they so choose and desire, obtain permission to carry on their person a handgun, otherwise, no Citizen who passes the restrictions can be denied the ability to own a firearm. A handful of restrictions does not equate to a total ignoring of the 2nd Amendment. The "special People" are those who CANNOT own a firearm in Tennessee. It is not the States that ignore the "Right to Bear Arms", it is the People IN the States that ignore that. The States count on the People to be sheep, and to allow a few to rule the rest. If more of the People understood the true nature of the Constitution, and what it really speaks to, and held their State Legislatures to the standard that exist, then the Feds nor the States would be able to hoodwink the People and usurp the Powers they do not really have. As long as one Citizens says to the next "We must let the government (of any nature) do as they will!" we are doomed to servitude. If the general public believes we must allow the Feds their way, it will continue to use us as the kind of bags of energy so aptly displayed in the Matrix. Mr. Smith may in fact show up at my door, but I refuse to lay down and take his opinion any more without challenge. The way to change this is to become involved in the political process on a local level, get to know the people you send to the State Legislature on an intimate level. Find and support the right kind of candidates, then hold them accountable for their actions. Put anti-Federalist in the office of Governor, elect responsible persons to the Federal Legislature. Follow the example of our Founders and get some skin in the game. I may not be on the winning side of any campaign this year, but it will not be because I was disinterested.... Only an individual can have a Right. Governments are invested with Powers granted by the will of an amalgamation of individuals. Governments have duties, and are to be limited in their actions by the Citizens they serve. Until that is once again understood by the populace, we will continue to slide to a totalitarian form of repression at the hands of ruling elite who would be the masters of all they survey, and if we allow it to happen, it is our own fault. The Federal Government can only take what we allow them to have.

Calling something one thing when it is something else is a trick of the Progressives, Comprehensive Immigration Reform=Amnesty for example. A basic understanding of the difference seems germane to the discussion. The Federal Constitution is a list of Powers granted to the government by the People. The 10th Amendment states the restrictions, unless the Powers are enumerated in the Constitution, (or specifically taken from the States by the Federal Constitution) the Federal government is bereft of the Power to control an issue, it is left to the States, and in the case of a lack of enumeration in the State Constitutions, to the People. Meaning, that the Legislators of the various States are responsible to resolve any question not specifically listed in the Constitution, or the various Amendments. This Republic is supposed to be a Government of the People, and by the People. When the People get lazy and fail to establish their authority, you wind up with what we have now. The President and all legislators are to be SERVANTS of the People. The Founders understood that Democracy equals mob rule, and set forth a map by which the rules would work in favor of the People, not a ruling elite. That is why the numbers required to add an Amendment are set where they are, 2/3 majority of both Houses of the Fed. Legislature to put forth an Amendment, and then 3/4 majority of the State Legislatures to ratify, (or a called Constitutional Convention by 2/3 of the State Legislatures) which still requires a 3/4 majority of the State Legislatures or Conventions to ratify. The Federal gov. is supposed to operate at the behest of the various States, however, the Bill of Rights, and the various Amendments which speak to Rights of the People are to be forever inviolate. There is but one mention of the word "Right" in the Federal Constitution, and it is used to prevent the Federal Gov. from trampling on the individual. Rights are listed in the Amendments to the Constitution. The Constitution is a list of chains place on the Federal government by the People, and the Amendments are a listing of Rights of the People, guarantees against the government intruding on those God given, and important enough to be listed, Rights. It is important that the least of us understand the difference.

States have no Rights, they have Powers. People have Rights. No governmental entity has any Rights, they simply have Powers granted by the will of the governed, be that City, County, State or Federal Governments.

On this point I disagree, there is in fact an economic war under way, against each of us who has a job. The escalation of "taking" our money through taxes to redistribute to the couch laying crowd is under way, and the present administration is the driving force behind that. We will have to wait till next April to see the extent, as there is no clear picture of the damage done by killing the Bush Tax cuts, and the charges for health care that are about to erupt like a boil on the collective hinney of the populace. Then there is the rape to come with the lame duck congress after November, hide and watch.

That is the great thing about the United States, we each get to have an opinion.

Ramsey sponsored and carried the HCP Bill in Tennessee as a freshman Senator, along the line of "Gun friendly, when gun friendly wasn't cool".

Seek and ye shall find. First, I suggest that you research what the TFA is. Second, I suggest you contact any of the Senators or Representatives that have been instrumental in the writing and passing of Gun Rights initiatives in the State of Tennessee over the course of the last couple of years, and ask if they know what, and who the TFA is. Then I would respectfully ask that you check and see which organization donated the most money to STATE legislators re: 2nd Amendment issues in 2010. Ask the State Senators and Representatives, City Council members from the Jackson area, the Mayors of Jackson and Madison County, the Jackson Chief of Police and Madison County Sheriff if any of them know the TFA. Find out which municipality of any size first defeated the MTAS fostered denial of the ability of HCP holders to carry in a City park, and what entity was responsible for raising the necessary opposition. See which group was instrumental in defeating a MTAS sponsored initiative to reinstate a 15 day waiting period for handgun purchase, as well as denying individual firearms transfers of any type without permission of the Chief of Police, along with the requirement that an FFL be involved. All this from an all volunteer organization, where no member or official is paid a single cent for their efforts on behalf of gun owners or sportsmen.

It has been exposed that Haslam donated to Jim Cooper's Campaign in 2002, Campaign Finance - Money, Political Finance, Campaign Contributions, as well as personal donation supporting Al Gore in 1988, CQ MoneyLine Search Results . So much for a "Conservative" agenda.

Add to the TFA endorsement, at least 20 State wide Tea Party entities doing the same: Tennessee Tea Party

Hopefully, the first pebble in the landslide? JACKSON COUNTY, WS DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Don't forget both versions of the "Cash for Clunkers" Bills.

American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee

What Washington does impacts every factor of our lives. You must not have been affected by the flood personally, or you would know just how broad the relief promised by the Federal Government is, and what little amount of "help" there actually is. Is your home or business in a map marked flood zone? If not you are not eligible for any "help" which in effect is your and your neighbors money being doled back out to you if deemed worthy. We are seeing first hand just how "Catch 22" the FEMA redistribution of wealth is here in Jackson. If you do not live in a floodplain, you can not buy flood insurance. Your homeowners will not pay anything if it was a rising water event and you did not have flood insurance, round and round we go. What we are hearing is that "A 500 year event" is sad, but FEMA does not cover the fact the County or the City failed to keep drainage channels cleaned out, same old "Warshington" doublespeak we always get. Anyone who thinks the Federal Gov. is coming in here on a white horse to "save" the afflicted is a fool. Add to that the coming taxes on your employer supplied health-care benefits, and the control and rationing of health-care itself that is just around the corner, not to mention the move to legitimize illegal immigrants into citizen hood by the millions.... Makes any surmise that Washington does not have a huge impact on our lives disingenuous at best. To the point that Ramsey has a speech impediment, I have no problem understanding what he says, and suggest if you get out amongst the great unwashed in Tennessee, his speech patterns are no worse than the majority of folks who maybe were not educated in the finer schools in our State. Obama is very articulate in his enunciation of the screwing he is giving us, does that make it any more palatable because the delivery is eloquently (to your ears maybe) done? To me that smacks of an elitism that is out of place in todays scramble to save our country from a complete Liberal takeover.

I have met and talked with all of the candidates but Wamp, he has not deigned to come into the TFA meeting at Jackson, nor has Haslam, but at least Haslam did sit down and talk with me twice. Nothing in either conversation led me to think he is anything other than a Lamar Alexander type Rino. McWherter is far too liberal, admitted he is all for gun registration and Obama's health care plan. Thinks the 10th Amendment has no place in todays society. Out of all of them Ramsey is the only one who has a real record of supporting gun rights. Once he gets off the stump speech, he is very real and easy to have a conversation with. He is still a small businessman, and my wife says his wife is the real deal, not the type to put on airs. They made their own way to where they are by working hard. Outside of some who simply do not like any one who is successful as a politician, (guess they were against Regan too if that is a criteria) I have heard no "dirt" on him, and his voting record is sound as a Conservative. He gets my labor, my money and my vote.

I think this needs addressing in the Legislature, if a HCP holder is denied the ability to keep that weapon on their person due to an establishments "Right" to Post, it makes no sense that that holder could not leave their weapon in the vehicle whether a non-HCP holder was present or not, the vehicle being just like a residence for all other purposes. If one can defend against intrusion just like at one's home, it would only seem prudent to allow it to be a safe storage venue, elsewise we have State Law denying the HCP holder the ability to carry if he has a non-HCP holder as a passenger, without putting the holder at risk to violate the law. So much for the "Rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6" rule.

Well, dragging a felon into the mix changes the nature of the conversation. However, I am talking about the average non-ax murdering, bank robbing, rapist type grandma, wife or girlfriend.

OK, give away Probably Cause, does your wife sitting in the car, with the doors locked and no visible weapon constitute "reasonable suspicion"? If so, going to be a lot of very busy LEO's and lawyers.