Shelby County Tn. Mayor wants tougher gun laws

[Guest 2HOW]

Tennessee Mayor Wants Tougher Gun Laws: Nearly two weeks ago a convenience store clerk was shot and killed during an apparent robbery at a store on Buntyn. Monday night at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, the inaugural Community Congress on Crime launched. It's aimed at putting an end to gun related violence. "This is serious," exclaimed Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton. So serious that Mayor Wharton spearheaded the community congress and is hosting three of them in communities hardest hit by crime. He's using the meetings to get residents' thoughts about tougher gun laws. "It's a shame to carry and [sic] illegal gun is a misdemeanor," exclaimed Robin Givand. Givand's 10-year-old son, Thomas, was brought back to life after being shot on Thanksgiving Day last year. Like Mayor Wharton, she believes carrying a gun illegally should be a felony...not a misdemeanor…

http://www.wreg.com/wreg-toughergunlaws-story,0,7516016.story

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[Guest canynracer]

illegal carry should be tougher

[Punisher84]

That's my Mayor. :D

[Guest m&pc9]

We have enough laws. We just need to keep violators in jail for the entire sentence. 20 yrs means 20 yrs not 2 years and probation with good behavior.

[Guest canynracer]

you dont go to jail for 20 years on illegal carry

[Guest m&pc9]

you dont go to jail for 20 years on illegal carry

I was using it as an example. That no one does the time they get.

[Guest canynracer]

gotchya

[Guest jackdog]

How about a law that gives open season on these criminals/thugs. No court cost lawyers need to find work in another venue. Prison would be less crowded. A lot of welfare would be eliminated honest folks would be far safer. Wow not is a stimulus package.

[Guest slothful1]

My perusal of the U.S. Constitution suggests that unlicensed/non-permitted carrying of a weapon should receive the same penalty as unlicensed speech, being religious without a permit, and peaceably assembling on private property without paying the mandatory peaceable assembly fee.

[Punisher84]

My perusal of the U.S. Constitution suggests that unlicensed/non-permitted carrying of a weapon should receive the same penalty as unlicensed speech, being religious without a permit, and peaceably assembling on private property without paying the mandatory peaceable assembly fee.

I agree with that mostly, but I don't see a problem with a permit. I just see a problem with how it is regulated.

It's kind of a necessary evil in our times. Nobody here wants gun in the hands of criminals or criminals carrying them, but we don't want to give up our liberties either. It's kind of a give and take I guess.

I see both sides of it because I see people every day that do really need the proper instruction and training that the TN class offers and sometimes more, but at the same time we should just be able to carry without a permit. I guess it just makes traffic stops longer if a gun is found and they would have to run your history to make sure you weren't a criminal.

[Guest truthsayer]

I posted his email response to me in the other thread. I don't think A.C. will be much of a problem.

[Guest db99wj]

What thread?

[jughead]

I agree with that mostly, but I don't see a problem with a permit. I just see a problem with how it is regulated.

It's kind of a necessary evil in our times. Nobody here wants gun in the hands of criminals or criminals carrying them, but we don't want to give up our liberties either. It's kind of a give and take I guess.

I see both sides of it because I see people every day that do really need the proper instruction and training that the TN class offers and sometimes more, but at the same time we should just be able to carry without a permit. I guess it just makes traffic stops longer if a gun is found and they would have to run your history to make sure you weren't a criminal.

point is criminals have them anyway.

[Guest burninbarns]

It's kind of a necessary evil in our times. Nobody here wants gun in the hands of criminals or criminals carrying them, but we don't want to give up our liberties either. It's kind of a give and take I guess.

Yep, we give up some of our rights, and they take even more.

[Punisher84]

point is criminals have them anyway.

I agree. I guess I'm just looking at it from a police officer's standpoint since alot of my friend's are cops and we discuss this alot. It's alot easier to just send someone on their way when they show you their permit, than have to wait on someone's history to get run through a database.

I think there are arguments to be made both ways and i think the permit process needs to be changed, but I think the permit itself is not a horrible thing nowadays. The biggest problem is the restrictions placed on us, not the piece of plastic in our wallet.

Edit: I know this is not a popular viewpoint among some of the more hardcore members here, but really ask yourself this. Are you upset that you have to have a permit to carry or are you upset that you can't carry most places legally?

To me restrictions placed on permit holders is infringing on our rights, not somebody requiring me to have a little piece of plastic that I could kindly show the police officer so he knows I'm one of the good guys. That is just not a problem to me.

Edited February 18, 2009 by Punisher84

[war4peace]

I agree. I guess I'm just looking at it from a police officer's standpoint since alot of my friend's are cops and we discuss this alot. It's alot easier to just send someone on their way when they show you their permit, than have to wait on someone's history to get run through a database.

I think there are arguments to be made both ways and i think the permit process needs to be changed, but I think the permit itself is not a horrible thing nowadays. The biggest problem is the restrictions placed on us, not the piece of plastic in our wallet.

Edit: I know this is not a popular viewpoint among some of the more hardcore members here, but really ask yourself this. Are you upset that you have to have a permit to carry or are you upset that you can't carry most places legally?

To me restrictions placed on permit holders is infringing on our rights, not somebody requiring me to have a little piece of plastic that I could kindly show the police officer so he knows I'm one of the good guys. That is just not a problem to me.

+1

[Guest truthsayer]

What thread?

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/showthread.php?p=229141#post229141

[Guest db99wj]

I agree. I guess I'm just looking at it from a police officer's standpoint since alot of my friend's are cops and we discuss this alot. It's alot easier to just send someone on their way when they show you their permit, than have to wait on someone's history to get run through a database.

I think there are arguments to be made both ways and i think the permit process needs to be changed, but I think the permit itself is not a horrible thing nowadays. The biggest problem is the restrictions placed on us, not the piece of plastic in our wallet.

Edit: I know this is not a popular viewpoint among some of the more hardcore members here, but really ask yourself this. Are you upset that you have to have a permit to carry or are you upset that you can't carry most places legally?

To me restrictions placed on permit holders is infringing on our rights, not somebody requiring me to have a little piece of plastic that I could kindly show the police officer so he knows I'm one of the good guys. That is just not a problem to me.

100% agreed. We can want this want that, but we could only have that in a perfect world and this world ain't perfect.

Thanks Truthsayer for the link.

[Guest HogMan]

Tennessee Mayor Wants Tougher Gun Laws: Nearly two weeks ago a convenience store clerk was shot and killed during an apparent robbery at a store on Buntyn. Monday night at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, the inaugural Community Congress on Crime launched. It's aimed at putting an end to gun related violence. "This is serious," exclaimed Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton. So serious that Mayor Wharton spearheaded the community congress and is hosting three of them in communities hardest hit by crime. He's using the meetings to get residents' thoughts about tougher gun laws. "It's a shame to carry and [sic] illegal gun is a misdemeanor," exclaimed Robin Givand. Givand's 10-year-old son, Thomas, was brought back to life after being shot on Thanksgiving Day last year. Like Mayor Wharton, she believes carrying a gun illegally should be a felony...not a misdemeanor…

http://www.wreg.com/wreg-toughergunlaws-story,0,7516016.story

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Well why am I not surprised:down:

[bteague2]

illegal carry should be tougher

I disagree, if I forget my permit in my truck or something, I'm not a felon leave it how it is. If they absolutely have to change something they should change how they charge people that use guns in crime, not just for carrying one.

[Guest nraforlife]

If the 2nd is to be held fast, a frickin Permit is not needed.

Tougher gun laws, why may I ask? Another feel good PC BS like the War on Drugs that is working out so so well.

If you use a firearm, any firearm, to commit a crime then the jail should be built on top of you. Otherwise, live and let live and leave me the hell alone.

And please God will someone please define an illegal gun!

[Guest 270win]

AC Wharton is just a clean polished version of his buddy Willie Herenton. Why should someone be charged with a FELONY for having a loaded handgun in the car without a permit/license? It is bad enough that it is a misdemeanor fine. I can drive across the state line from Memphis into Southaven, MS and be totally legal with any firearm loaded in my car with or without a license...long guns included. I'd hate someone to never be able to vote or own a firearm for carrying one 'illegally' with an otherwise clean record. There are plenty of other laws to get the true gang bangers like felony charges for possessing drugs and firearms at the same time or felon in possession of a firearm. Memphis and Shelby County has a big problem...and that is a catch and release criminal justice system at the Shelby County Courts.

AC needs to learn how to concentrate on the criminals...but then again he would be losing his voter base if he did that!

[EMTRN]

I know this view will be unpopular, but I think Wharton is a decent guy. I am all for felony charges for illegal carry, it will make my job easier. And don't worry about getting charged with a felony because you left your permit at home, dispatch tells me your HCP status.

[jay1313g]

George Carlin may have been on to something years ago. I wasn't a big fan of his but I remember him doing a bit on fencing off states and letting the criminals loose in there. How about we fence off certain areas around Memphis, put all the uneducated, crotch grabbing, no job having, want to sleep all day, 22" wheel riding, dope dealing, wanna be thugs in there and let them shoot sideways at each other for a few days?

Whew! Sorry about that but I had to get it off my chest. Aside from the latest ordeal in Cordova, most of the "gun crime" seems to be centered in specific areas around Memphis.

Let's play "Guess what area of Memphis will have a shooting tonight?" I vote Frayser will be on Channel 3 news in the morning! Any takers?

[RoDan]

Orange Mound!