TFA Possible Nashville Chapter meeting

[Guest Len]

Hello All:

John Harris at TN Firearms Association (http://www.tfaonline.org/memberforum/index.php) is trying to start a Nashville area chapter. He has scheduled a meeting for April 19.

Info is on this TFA thread: http://www.tfaonline.org/memberforum/viewtopic.php?t=1103

This might be an opportunity to get some middle-TN TGO members together and involved in TFA. (TFA is a purely political action organization devoted to lobbying in Nashville.)

Barring a work commitment, I'll be there. Anyone want to check it out? There supposedly will be free pizza.

[Guest RN MEDIC]

Len, thanks much for stepping out committing to be there. Wish I could be there. Here's hoping for a good number of committed folks from which a good strong active chapter will be born. How I wish my health would permit me to do more to help Mr. Harris in this fine group. Please let us know how it goes after the evening's activities.

Most Respectfully, RN

[Guest jackdog]

what time

what is the location

I would like to go

Jackdog

[molonlabetn]

I'll be there if I can... I just checked and have an exam that night for a night-class which I am attending.

[TGO David]

Now I'm confused...

Is the meeting March 19th (today?), or April 19th?

???

I'd be more likely to be able to come if it's today... I would just need to know fairly soon!

Well crap.

[shaftbass]

Go shooting instead!

[Guest RN MEDIC]

Sure hope the folks in middle TN will set aside the time and make this a priority. Mr. Harris is a well respected Nashville atty who GIVES many hours of his time that could be spent with his business interests or his family working in this cause for all of us. He is in a unique position to be very instrumental in helping preserve our rights and gain others that have been lost in the past.

Respectfully, RNMEDIC

[molonlabetn]

I have made arrangements to take my exam at another time.

I will be there.

[Guest GlocKingTN]

I have made arrangements to take my exam at another time.

I will be there.

Now thats dedicated....

[molonlabetn]

Bump

[molonlabetn]

Bump again!

[molonlabetn]

Meeting time changed to 7pm, same night.

[molonlabetn]

Bump!!!

[TGO David]

It looks like I will be there. I came into work a bit late this morning so I could work til 6pm and head over to this meeting. Beats making two 60 mile round trips.

[TGO David]

Thanks to all of you who came out tonight. It was good to see Eddie (Molonlabetn) and Len again, and especially nice to finally meet Jackdog and TNRoadrunner. Very glad to be able to put faces with screen-names.

Also, it was a sincere pleasure to finally meet Mr. John Harris of the TFA and Mr. Buford Tune of APPS. Both are very intelligent, very motivated and very motivational speakers and it's comforting to know that they are on our side and working to further the cause of legal handgun carry in Tennessee. I'd hate to think of how bad it would be for us if they were on the other side.

I'll try to compose my thoughts and post more tomorrow about what I thought of tonight's TFA Nashville Chapter resurrection meeting. There was a lot said that I want to have time to digest and decompress a little. In the meantime I hope the rest of you who attended tonight will share your thoughts and opinions as well.

[Guest Len]

I'll agree with Tungsten that it was an interesting and informative meeting with close to 40 people in attendance (about 30 more than I expected). It is clear there is interest there for a TFA Nashville Chapter.

Although I have not yet had time to think fully about the meeting yet, and I have some thoughts I'd rather keep private at this point, I do want to share a few random tidbits:

1) MANY TGO business cards were taken last night. I expect to see some TGO members as a result of the meeting.

2) As I noted earlier, many more people showed than what I expected, a good sign.

3) Met several more TGO members, and saw some TGO folks I had met previously. Glad to meet/see you all again!

4) Mr. Harris and Mr. Tune were both interesting, and lived up to their reputations in the firearms community. I wish I had a chance to chat with both of them more.

5) How TGO fits in with TFA and if there should be any kind of relationship can only be decided when we have more info about the future of TFA and TGO finds it's collective voice and decides what it wants to be.

6) Based on the discussions of various organizations in TN, there seems to be a void that TGO can fill if it so chooses. TFA does the politics (focused mostly on carry issues, but wanting to branch out), there is an NRA-affiliate organization (but they are only interested in rifle shooting), and there are various hunter/conservation organizations out there. But there does not seem to be a TN-sized version of NRA -an organization devoted to all forms of the shooting sports, carry issues, firearms collection, general gun-fan club, etc.

7) The Nashville chapter of TFA has not found a direction yet -there does not seem to be a consensus on "what kind" of chapter to be. This isnt bad, and it will come with time, but I could not answer if someone asked me today "Why should I go to a TFA Nashville Chapter meeting?"

8) I was greatly disturbed to hear some of the issues raised by Mr. Tune, Mr. Harris and some of their colleagues concerning the lack of support some gun shops have for TFA, NRA and the gun community in general.

[Guest Hyaloid]

Thanks for the synopsis fellas!

IRT to #8 Len:

I think voting with our dollars and education are the two things that *may* change some of the attitudes expressed by some gunshops. Affect their bottom line, shop at places known to support the organizations, and I'll wager the tune changes pretty quick.

[tnroadrunner]

I went to the meeting with the hope of getting the Nashville Chapter off the ground and also to see if we could also get a chapter up and running in the Dickson, Humphreys, Hickman, Camden etc. areas. Maybe starting as one chapter and going from there. Does anyone in these areas know of a place we could meet? As Mr. Harris said last night he would come to the meeting. If anyone on this forum is in this area please let me know.

[Guest Fuel]

8) I was greatly disturbed to hear some of the issues raised by Mr. Tune, Mr. Harris and some of their colleagues concerning the lack of support some gun shops have for TFA, NRA and the gun community in general.

Interesting. Can you elaborate?

[molonlabetn]

There was indeed an excellent turn-out... I counted 33 at the start of the meeting, and there were a few more who trickled in shortly thereafter.

The main impetus was to designate a 'leader/victim' for the Nashville Chapter (which I believe was satisfactorily accomplished)... John and Buford both did an excellent job of describing to everyone present the role and history of the TFA since '95, and the efforts which they have made since then (which we all have benefited from). These include the support of NRA-endorsed legislation, and educating Tennesseans of those changes or support which was needed to do so.

John made many excellent points about what we should be doing in the Nashville area, such as meeting with legislators and educating the proprietors of gun-shops and ranges about the laws in TN and the existence of the TFA. He illustrated his remarks with the accomplishments and common activities of the other chapters, which are along those lines.

The next formativ'esque meeting is going to be at the same location (A.P.P.S.) on the third Thurday of May (the 17th), where John will continue to discuss the upcoming legislation, and give us some ideas of where to start.

The meeting after that will begin the new chapter president's tenure, and we will need to arrange locations, activities, and guest speakers for future meetings.

I'm interested to see how involved TGO becomes with the TFA... possibly as its electronic counterpart. I hope, at the very least, that TGO can gain a stronger membership which can support the TFA in a more unified manner than what presently exists.

I'll be at the next meeting!

[molonlabetn]

8) I was greatly disturbed to hear some of the issues raised by Mr. Tune, Mr. Harris and some of their colleagues concerning the lack of support some gun shops have for TFA, NRA and the gun community in general.

Interesting. Can you elaborate?

What I got from this discussion was the surprising and notable trend of gun-shop owners, employees, and even most local gun-club members are unaware of the TFA and its role in molding legislation which directly impacts them in this state.

This falls similarly in line with the numerous times that gun dealers have told me that they vote democratic*, and hope for democratic* control, even if they don't agree with most of their tenets... the simple reason is, that when democrats control more government, the more afraid we are of potential losses to our rights, and subsequently their gun-sales and profit margins go up.

Sick isn't it?

A good thing for us to do anytime we're in a gun-shop is to ask for them to carry John Harris's red book (and ditch the 'Legally Armed' crap)... That'd be a start.

I've been passing out TFA applications all day to folks who I know would be interested in protecting their rights.

* no offense meant, Len... This is simply the truth of what had been related to me.

[Guest Len]

Hemi:

MolonlabeTN summarized it well for me. I'd just add that its been reported that some shop owners are not NRA members and dont even know about TFA, much less are members. (I wonder what percentage of gun shop revenue comes from permit holders, collectors and other non-hunters???)

I must admit have fallen victim to the "Legally Armed" scam when I first got my permit. I was ignorant, yes, but I also trusted my local gun shop. They had that in stock, and not John Harris' book -which I subsequently purchased and have found INFINITELY more valuable. I am now more educated and less trusting.

MolonlabeTN:

No offense taken on the gun shop owners voting Dem thing. I have heard that before. Historically, looking at the Dow & the usual economic indicators, Dem Presidents are better for the economy, so I will take it as a back-handed compliment!

As far as congress and the local level, I know of no correlation, nor would I encourage anyone to vote Dem for that reason. My political party of choice is not perfect, but I feel is less imperfect than the alternatives out there. I am a social liberal and not a single-issue voter. I respect everyone's right to vote as they see fit, and I hope my choices are respected as well. And I think we should all be very thankful that we live in a free country* where we can make that choice.

* Some exceptions apply, void in Florida and where prohibited by the "Patriot Act."

One final thought about last night. Did anyone notice the complete lack of diversity? A few women, but 90% guys and 100% white. Davidson County is the most diverse in TN, with many (legal) immigrants and people of color who own shops and small businesses that you think one would want to protect with a gun on the premises. How can we reach out to this under-served and badly in need population? These people are living the American Dream -and they vote!

[Marswolf]

One final thought about last night. Did anyone notice the complete lack of diversity? A few women, but 90% guys and 100% white. Davidson County is the most diverse in TN, with many (legal) immigrants and people of color who own shops and small businesses that you think one would want to protect with a gun on the premises. How can we reach out to this under-served and badly in need population? These people are living the American Dream -and they vote!

Boy, that sounds like a Democrat....

[molonlabetn]

http://www.tfaonline.org/memberforum/viewtopic.php?t=1141&highlight=

Next TFA Nashville Chapter Meeting

These are going to be planned (at this time) for the 3rd Thursday of each month.

NEXT MEETING: MAY 17, 2007

TIME: 7:00 PM

LOCATION: APPS

Academy of Personal Protection and Security

336 Hill Ave.

Nashville, TN 37210

http://www.appstraining.com/Map.html

Speaker: John Harris to give update on status of pending legislation and to discuss open floor questions. Additional discussion on chapter formation.

_________________

John Harris

Executive Director

Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc.

I'll be there!