Recent Comments
Re: “Harwell on the Hot Seat: Gun Freaks Threaten Political Reprisals”
Min: No offense taken at all and thank you for the kind words.
I didn't quote the entire amanemdnt simply becasue I suspect most people know it and also because I doubt that this is an appropriate place to fully disect and discuss the second amendment. :)
I believe that any requirement that delays or prevents a citizen from exercising a right...any right...is an "infringement"; at least as I understand the word.
Re: “Harwell on the Hot Seat: Gun Freaks Threaten Political Reprisals”
Don't Ask: If a bill gets passed I don't think understanding the law will be a problem for anyone who wants to understand it...I was confused only because I wasn't aware that there were actually two separate bills pending.
Were I writing this legislation I would make it applicable to any/all parking lots owned by a commercial entity and provided for the use of employees or customers of a business (employee parking lots, shopping mall parking lots, etc) and the only restriction I'd place on "who" can have a firearm in their vehicle would be that the person be legally able to own the firearm (i.e be of age, not a convicted felon, etc) and that it be properly carried (i.e. per current law).
We'll just have to disagree on the "training/certification" aspect; not on the importance of it but on it being a requirement.
I guess I'm just simple-minded enough to believe that the Constitution actually means what it says when it says that ther right to keep and bear arms "shall not be infringed"...requiring some certain amount of classrom training, range training, etc. is an infringement; we can argue about how much or how little of an infringement but it still is an infringement.
Unless someone has forfitted their right to carry a firearm through proper adjudication, then they should not have to jump though bureaucratic hoops to exercise the right.
Re: “Harwell on the Hot Seat: Gun Freaks Threaten Political Reprisals”
Okay...I think I see the root of the misunderstanding; there are four bills pending; three of them specifically limit the effect to HCP holders only; only the one you linked to does not contain that language.
LINKS:
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/S…
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/S…
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/S…
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/S…
Re: “Harwell on the Hot Seat: Gun Freaks Threaten Political Reprisals”
I should be able to ask at least one of the bill's sponsor's later this month and I'm going to ask. :)
Re: “Harwell on the Hot Seat: Gun Freaks Threaten Political Reprisals”
@ Don't Ask: Then you are reading it differently than I am..
The bill says it applies to "individuals licensed to carry"...the only "licensed to carry" firearms in Tennessee are Handgun Carry Permit holders.
Re: “Harwell on the Hot Seat: Gun Freaks Threaten Political Reprisals”
At DontAsk: I'm not sure I understand your point...unless I'm mistaken, this bill only applies to those who have their HCP which means they have had the training you speak of and in fact, under current law you cannot carry a loaded firearm on you person (or in your vehicle) without having a valid HCP (meaning you've had the training and the background check).
I agree that people should do more than the minimum; but this bill does not suddenly open the floodgates for people to just "start carrying" a firearm in the vehicle (which seems to be what some are suggesting).
Re: “Harwell on the Hot Seat: Gun Freaks Threaten Political Reprisals”
Yes...we need Obama defeated...if he wins a second term he will change the makeup of the court for decades and this country will no longer be a country of liberty and freedom and personal responsibility (not that there is much of that left);it will be just another socialist state. He is clearly ready to abandon the Constitution and any "right" that interferes with his plans (in fact he as said as much)...the right of the people to keep and bear arms, a right recognized (not granted) by the Constitution will just be the first right cast aside because that right alone is all that stands between a society free people and a society of slaves.
The Constitution's only power exists in the hearts, moral character and integrity of those elected to serve and those citizens who willingly live by it.