Criminals should fear TN. handgun owners

[Guest 2HOW]

The state Senate and House have introduced a number of bills that would significantly loosen the restrictions on the carry of handguns by permit holders within this state. These include carrying in restaurants, as long as the holder is not consuming alcohol; local, state, federal parks and forests (unless prohibited by federal law); wildlife management areas; colleges, and universities.

The number of bills is too numerous to list here but if you go to http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/billsearch/BillSearchAdvanced.aspx and type in firearms, you will see the list. There are also two very important bills associated with retaining second amendment rights.

The first is SB 1908, the "Second Amendment Protection Act" which prohibits the sale of micro-stamped ammunition or firearms within this state. The intent here is to prevent passage of the "Ammunition Accountability Act," which requires said micro-stamping. The second, and more important of the two, is SB 1644 the "Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act" which essentially says that, under the Ninth and 10th amendments of the U.S. Constitution, the federal government does not have the authority to regulate commerce within the state of Tennessee. As such it does not have the authority to regulate the production of firearms within this state as long as those weapons are manufactured, sold, and retained within this state.

This may prevent an assault weapons or handgun ban in Tennessee in the future. There are over 3,000 handgun carry permit holders in Clarksville alone, not to mention the rest of Montgomery County.

I urge you, and anyone else concerned about their Second Amendment rights to contact Rep. Pitts and Sen. Barnes and insist on their support of all this legislation.

Law abiding permit holders can be trusted with their weapons in any location. It is the criminal element, not the general public, who should fear these bills.

SAM SMITH

Clarksville 37042