Gun advocates show support at rally

[QuietDan]

Gun advocates show support at rally

 

By Scott Broden

 

MURFREESBORO — Local politicians pledged to protect the Second Amendment right to bear arms while supporters took aim at paper targets at a rally/fundraiser here Saturday.

 

“The Second Amendment is a fundamental right and must be protected,” said state Sen. Jim Tracy, a Shelbyville Republican who announced this past week he will seek the 2014 Republican nomination for the 4th Congressional District seat held by Scott DesJarlais of South Pittsburg. “I believe you have a right to bear arms and protect yourself.”

 

State Rep. Joe Carr, who is also a Republican and has formed an exploratory committee to study his candidacy for the 4th District seat, offered similar sentiments.

 

“It’s part of the Bill of Rights,” said Carr.

 

The Second Amendment Rally & Pistol Shoot, organized by state Rep. Mike Sparks of Smyrna, attracted more than 400 people to a farm off Burleson Lane near Old Nashville Highway and Florence Road. Sparks said it was scheduled long before a shooter killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., and sparked renewed national debate over gun control.

 

“I wasn’t trying to be political or have a knee-jerk reaction,” said Sparks, who said the event is a fundraiser for his re-election in four years. “It’s good food, fun and fellowship.”

 

Intended or not, the event clearly demonstrated the politicans’ stand on guns with the start of the legislative session looming Tuesday. Various bills on access to guns, including whether teachers should be trained and allowed to carry concealed weapons in schools, are among the topics expected to generate debate this session.

 

Guest speaker and gun-rights supporter Nikki Goeser of Nashville said that while her husband was murdered in a shooting, guns aren’t the problem.

 

“I never blamed the gun for my husband’s murder,” she said. “I blamed the murderer.”

 

She noted after her speech that her husband’s killer was diagnosed as being paranoid and delusional.

“The sad thing is he only got 23 years (as a prison sentence),” Goeser said.

 

She opposes mandating gun-free schools to prevent horrible tragedies such as what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary.

 

“There’s nobody in this place protecting you,” Goeser said. “Bad guys don’t care.”

 

She’d rather let teachers carry a firearm to give them “a fighting chance.”

 

“Let them have the ability to defend those children they love so much,” said Goeser said.

 

Folks enjoyed sampling chili and chatting at an event that had many American flags on display. Some shot at targets in a field or hung out by a fire pit.

 

“We are here to support our Second Amendment rights,” Nicole Jennings of Murfreesboro said by the fire pit with friends, including Rutherford County Board of Education member David Nipper, who is a member of the local GOP executive committee.

 

Democrats mingled at the event, as well, including Judge Larry Brandon and County Commissioner Chantho Sourinho. Notable Republicans present included County Trustee Teb Batey, Sheriff Robert Arnold, state Sen. Bill Ketron and Road Board member Paul Johnson.

 

Jennings, a member of the conservative grass-roots 9/12 Project of Rutherford County, also came with her husband, Brad Jennings, who came to compete in the target-shooting competition.

 

Former congressional candidate Lou Ann Zelenik, a past chairwoman of the Rutherford County Republican Party, also attended without divulging whether she wants to run again for the congressional seat.

 

“I think it’s a great event to welcome people and meet Mike (Sparks) and neighbors in our community and celebrate our Second Amendment to keep and bear arms,” said Zelenik, who finished third in a close Republican primary to U.S. Rep. Diane Black in 2010 and lost again more decisively to the congresswoman from Gallatin last November.

 

Second Amendment supporter David Boyce said he’s worried that President Barack Obama and Congress will implement strict gun control laws.

 

“I think the Obama administration is going to take away our gun rights,” said Boyce, a Tennessee Army National Guard major who ran unsuccessfully for the Murfreesboro City Council in 2010. “It’s going to start out with higher taxes on our ammunition and weapons when you buy them. Then they’ll start with forced gun restrictions and then an annual tax on your weapons. Then they’ll start the confiscation portion of it. Historically, these are the steps they’ve taken in other countries.”

 

While his guests talked about their gun rights, Sparks made sure they know he also wants to call attention to mental health and drug addiction problems.

 

“There’s no one speaking up on these issues,” said Sparks, noting that he made this point to Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. “I told the governor sadly it will be about guns. It will sadly overshadow all the good things we are trying to do as a state legislature to improve our economy, improve education and help some businesses that are struggling.”

 

 

http://www.dnj.com/article/20130106/NEWS05/301060046/2013-LEGISLATIVE-PREVIEW-Gun-advocates-show-support-rally