Letter to my senator

[Randall53]

I sent this today. I hope it helps!


Subject: Senate Bill 1171


To Senator Bo Watson:

Dear Sir,

I’m sure you are aware that the criminal element of our state and country abide by NO laws and they feel they are entitled to, borrowing from the Bible, “do that which is right in their own eyes”. They even seek out gun free areas to commit many crimes, knowing that their prey is unarmed and vulnerable. Signs and warnings that bar firearms from any area of our cities, parks, or recreation areas have no affect at all on these criminals. This fact places every law abiding citizen at risk to bodily harm or even death at the hands of these criminals if attacked while abiding by these laws in these areas. While some choose not to arm themselves and take the risk, others like myself, have chosen to ready ourselves and prepare ourselves to protect our lives and our families from harm if, God forbid, we are forced into the situation of self-defense.

Therefore, I am very pleased of the passing of House Bill 995, sponsored by Representative Mike Harrison (R-9) and Representative Tilman Goins (R-10), which would allow a person with a handgun carry permit to carry a firearm in any state, county, or municipal park, or other recreation area and would remove provisions allowing local governments to prohibit carrying in parks by resolution or ordinance. The current law allows for a patchwork of firearm regulations throughout the state where a law-abiding Tennessean with a valid Handgun Carry Permit may unknowingly and unintentionally break the law. As I stated in the beginning of this letter, current law does nothing to address crime and only impacts responsible, law-abiding gun owners.

I am now strongly urging you to vote FOR the companion bill of HB0995 which is the Senate Bill 1171, sponsored by Senator John Stevens (R-24), will be heard on the Senate floor on Wednesday, April 1.

Support the lawful citizens of our state that have chosen to stand upon our Second Amendment rights to protect ourselves and our families in the event we are forced to defend ourselves and those we love.

Thank you,

Edited March 31, 2015 by Randall53

[K191145]

Good letter.

[Worriedman]

Well put sir!

[LagerHead]

Thanks for the reminder Randall.
 
I sent the following email to my state Senator:
 

Dear Senator Roberts,

  

As I am certain you are already aware, the Tennessee State Constitution reads, in part:

Section 26. That the citizens of this state have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime. 

Several years ago a law was passed that allowed citizens of this great state to carry firearms in state parks if they possessed a valid Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit (HCP). However, the law, in direction violation of the above portion of the Constitution of our state, allowed local, municipal, and county governments to enact legislation overriding the so-called "guns in parks law."

I say it is in direct violation of the Constitution for the following reasons: First, it is a violation of state law to carry a firearm, openly or concealed. It is a defense of this violation if a person maintains a valid HCP. Second, those who would violate the above law are certainly not going to be in any way deterred by a "no guns allowed" sign anywhere, much less in a city park. Therefore it stands to reason that the only people against whom laws preventing carry in city and county parks have effect are the lawful citizens of this state that possess a valid HCP.

As FBI statistics and several nationwide studies have shown, carry permit holders are among the most law-abiding segments of our population. So, preventing them from exercising their rights enshrined in the Constitutions of both the great state of Tennessee and the United States in no way has the effect of preventing crime. In fact it would be difficult to argue that such laws are enacted even "with a view to prevent crime," unless one is willing to rewrite the data available on carry permit holders nationwide, and indeed within the state.

Therefore, I strongly urge you to vote yes in support of SB1171 and restore the rights of those in this state who have taken the steps necessary - including training, FBI and TBI background checks, fingerprinting, and spending a few hundred dollars of our hard-earned money - to become HCP holders in this state to lawfully carry everywhere possible in the state.

I once again thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

LagerHead

I didn't actually sign it LagerHead though. ;) Edited April 1, 2015 by LagerHead