Legislators resent media mockery of their guns galore campaign
by Jeff Woods
Whenever they're feeling a little heat from constituents for doing something stupid, lawmakers fall back on an old gambit: They blame the media. In this case, they're saying newspapers are sensationalizing the guns-in-bars law by reporting that it'll allow guns in bars. Outrageous!
So last week, as the legislature was overriding Gov. Phil Bredesen's veto, Rep. Curry Todd mocked his hometown newspaper as "the Comical Appeal," and the grandstanding Sen. Doug Jackson lashed out at the media for failing to write the story the way he would write it—i.e., by pointing out the genius of Doug Jackson.
Now House Speaker Kent Williams is getting into the act. In a weekend speech to a roomful of real-estate salesmen, he explained how our Deadeye Dick citizen gunmen might save your life at Applebee's some night. You know, if a killer happens to walk through the door while you're enjoying your plate of Tequila Lime Chicken, they'll hop up with pistols blazing and take him out before he makes it past the salad bar. We love the smell of gunsmoke in the evening.
"All I've seen is guns in bars, guns in bars, guns in bars," Williams said. "You'd think it's going to be the old wild, wild West. Everybody's going to be drunk and shooting at each other.... (But) you're going to go to Applebee's. You're going to go to these other restaurants, and it's going to be the same as it is today. The only difference being today if some nut comes in and starts shooting the place up, one of our carry permit holders will go pull his gun out and blow him away. That maybe saves some lives."
Newspapers are ignoring this major benefit of the new law, Williams observed. The problem is, attacking the media never works. Ask Spiro Agnew. When politicians start picking on the media, it can mean only one thing: They've really stepped in it this time.
After a brief foray to the tumultuous world of people who care about things, Gov. Phil Bredesen has retreated to the safety and comfort of the Neutral Planet where the motto "Live Free Or Don't" better suits his governing style. It was completely out of character and a little troublesome when he vetoed the guns-in-bars bill. But not to worry. He admits he didn't talk to a single legislator to try to sustain his veto.
"I guess the issue for me was it seems this would have taken a very difficult, all-out effort," he told reporters. Well, we wouldn't want the governor to exert himself, now would we?
Even though he called guns in bars "an invitation to disaster," he said he had "bigger fish to fry" in passing the state budget. We think he was stifling a yawn at the time.
That means clear sailing for the National Rifle Association and its fanatical followers in the legislature. The governor won't put up any more fuss. Three gun bills are still on his desk. One allows guns in city parks. Unless the Metro Council votes to forbid it, licensed gunmen will stroll around the softball fields and playgrounds of Shelby Park before the summer ends. Isn't that a comforting thought?
Another bill lets drunken rednecks ride around in their pickups with loaded rifles and shotguns. We wouldn't want them to feel threatened.
Yet another one, called the "Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act," purports to eliminate federal regulation of guns made in Tennessee. It won't really do that because the ATF says it won't, but whatever. We've already hurled ourselves down the rabbit hole here, so things make sense only if they don't.
Bredesen has already suggested he'll sign the guns-in-parks bill. He doesn't think it sounds all that dangerous.
"I will say I don't think it has the same severity in the sense of its not mixing alcohol with guns, which is the really dangerous piece of it for me," he says.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Firearms Association is ready to go for more. That's after assuring everyone they'd be satisfied with this year's slew of gun bills. Of course, they say that every year. Now, in an email to supporters, the association's John Harris says the Second Amendment absolutely demands that state law allow handguns on schoolyards too. He says guns in bars "is just the beginning."
Email jwoods@nashvillescene.com, or call 615-844-9445.
Comments (8)
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Gee, Jeff. Seems like you got your shorts in a wad since losing your campaign to deny handgun carry permit holders their rights. I guess now that you've had your point of view refuted you're going to whine about it. Grow up, son. Your in no more danger now than before, maybe even less so.
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Let us think about this for a moment. EVERY state around Tennessee allows for the legal carrying of handguns by lawabiding citizens in restaurants and have done so for many years WITHOUT any problems. Another THIRTY or so states ALSO allow this without problems. Yet... Jeff objects to it, along with other newspaper editors. I think it's fairly easy to see who's "out of step" with reality, eh.
Actually Jeff, it's just that we have learned a bit from you and other gun control types. A little bit at a time and eventually we will have taken back the rights that you and your friends have infringed with their lies and distortions. If in the process we ignore your feelings and refuse to settle for your delusions of security that is a small price to pay for our natural rights. There are fewer and fewer people left that fall for your line that "the government/police and a cell phone are all you need for protection" and realizing that if the police do happen to by accident, arrest the violent criminal who has invaded their home or harmed their family, it does nothing to repair the harm that was done. Only one person can be sure to be at the scene of a crime in time to do anything about it, the victim. A gun is not magic and won't guarentee your safety but being a disarmed helpless victim ensures the safety of the criminal. Crime should be dangerous just like your brand of stupid should hurt.
The problem with Jeff Woods is that he believes the Sesame Street/Barney type brainwashing he received as a child. Apparently he's never had anything happen to him that challenges his beliefs. His life likely resembles a TV show. If someday a criminal breaks into his house, rapes his wife, and sticks a gun in his mouth, then he might understand what the gun craze is all about. Until then, we're all just wackos.
Hey Jeff...funny how you disappeared on the thread where John Harris called you out on your BS. Where did you go? Hellooooo....Jeff? Why are you hiding?
"Meanwhile, the Tennessee Firearms Association is ready to go for more. That's after assuring everyone they'd be satisfied with this year's slew of gun bills." Jeff...dude. Now you are officially a liar. Do you have proof for this? You were asked on another one of your articles to provide proof for this from John Harris himself and you never responded. Why the hell would you continue to repeat something that has no basis in truth? Where are you getting this from? Can you post a source for this this claim? Again, why would you continue to assert something that you know is FALSE?
Jeff, It would appear that once again you have gotten your little liberal lace panties in a wad. The TFA along with the NRA are protecting my and other firearm owners rights, including yours. It is your choice to own firearms or not, but it is my choice to carry a firearm for my protection as well as my families. As a Police officer here in Tennessee I carry a firearm to protect you and your family as well as myself on duty. I support citizen carry here in Tennessee, if you dont want to carry a firearm thats fine but shut up your crying and let other people enjoy their 2nd Amendment rights. In closing I will paraphrase President Obama " We Won" Now get over it you schmuck. I must go now as I have some nasty semi automatic rifles and handguns to clean after having taken my children to the range yesterday. MOLON LABE
Jeff, As a Handgun Carry Permit Holder, I sincerely hope I never have a reason to draw my gun. I DO NOT want to kill anyone but I would if it meant saving a member of my family or myself. I'm also a MEMBER of the NRA, not a fanatical follower as you put it. I don't have to follow anyone. I can and do think for myself. Can you say the same? The sad part of all this is people like you want to paint HCP holders as the bad guys when we've all had to go through background checks by the TBI and the FBI to get our permits. We've all gone through the necessary training and have spent hours at the range practicing. We all know the law and don't want to go to jail. With knowing all this, you still want to make HCP holders the bad guys. I have a better idea. Why don't you stop trying to characterize HCP holders, NRA members, and Republican legislators as the problem just because you're scared of guns. The real problems are the people that couldn't care less about the laws and have no problem breaking them. Once you wake up and write about the criminal as the real problem then and only then will you be able to call yourself a journalist rather than just another liberal with a position to spew your own brand of BS.
