Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Law and Order Radnor Lake Rambo Sues the State
Posted by Jeff Woods on Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 9:04 AM
Embody's encounter with the Belle Meade police.
Our buddy Leonard Embody, the infamous Radnor Lake Rambo, has sued the state to challenge Tennessee's handgun permit law. He's upset because the state suspended his permit after he waltzed around the lake with an AK-47 pistol slung around his shoulder and then followed up that stunt by parading down Belle Meade Boulevard carrying a revolver openly in his hand.
Police stopped Embody both times but couldn't charge him with anything because what he was doing is perfectly legal. Instead, the state decided Embody poses a “material likelihood of risk to the public” and suspended his gun permit for that reason.
"This guy has an affinity for open carry," Belle Meade police chief Tim Eads tells the Tennessean. "Just because you have a right to do something doesn't mean it's the right thing to do."
Ah, but there's the rub. It may not be the right thing to do to carry your handguns in open view like Wyatt Earp. But under our crazy handgun permit statute, it's not illegal. Embody's lawsuit obviously makes a good point. What does "material likelihood of risk to the public" mean exactly? That standard seems unfairly vague. Embody says he's never been arrested and never been charged with a crime. Is he a risk to the public just because he's doing what the law allows?
If we don't like gun freaks strutting around our state with their pistols in open view, then we ought to change the law to prohibit that.
Comments (14)
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"This guy has an affinity for open carry. Just because you have a right to do something doesn't mean it's the right thing to do."
Is it possible the Belle Meade police chief honestly doesn't see the absurdity of his statement? And if so, should he be in such a position of authority? Hy-friggin-sterical.
I think I've got to side with Embody, despite how odd that feels. Crazy gun laws make strange bedfellows.
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"If we don't like gun freaks strutting around our state with their pistols in open view, then we ought to change the law to prohibit that."
I agree. Fair notice is required otherwise a law is vague.
Embody is a childish jackass. There's nothing absurd about that statement. He's going to get killed doing shit like that. Tennessee is such a fucked up place.
You're saying cops will kill me because I don't break the law? Just like they did with Scott in Las Vegas?
Legally, he is absolutely in his right to carry openly. Embody might be childish, but we have laws for a reason. People do terrible things - murder, robbery, rape, etc. but although their guilt might be painfully obvious we still provide public defenders and a trial by a jury of the person's peers.
Laws aren't here to conform to our standards of right and wrong...they're here to help us to live together peacefully and protect the few who might actually be innocent.
I am not a gun advocate by any standard and I absolutely think this guy is a fringe nutjob. Yet, he's absolutely right. Scary as hell and I would definitely run the other way if I saw him coming with a gun in his hand, but ... he's absolutely right. If what he has done is legal under the laws of TN, then the police and permit authority have no ground to stand on.
It was Tennessee State law from 1871 to 1989 that the only handgun which could be carried was the army or navy pistol which must be carried openly in the hand. Many people were sent to jail and ordered to pay fines because they carried concealed, holstered, or in any other manner. Belle Meade ordinance 11-602 mandates open carry in the hand. They have had 7 months to change the law, but the Belle Meade Commissioners seem to like open carry in the hand.
That's just great.
Next time I'm walking at Radnor with my family (who are from Littleton, Colorado- maybe you've heard of it?) I get to explain this situation. Can't wait to see the look on their faces when the Columbine flashbacks hit. Thanks a lot, asshole. Hope you feel cool.
What's your point 'Rito? Should we ban the depiction of guns on TV too, so you're relatives dont have "flashbacks"?
I'm waiting for the headline "Man in Radnor Lake park carrying AK-47 is shot while protesting his right to carry". Little long for a headline, but you get the point.
Sorry, there is no such thing as an AK-47 pistol. Period. Time for reporters to get their facts straight.....but then, when it comes to weapons, they never do.
Nah, TV violence is pretty unrealistic most of the time anyway, and I wouldn't even have a problem if Embody was holstered and doing that. It's having the thing out in a manner that would allow him to off somebody in 2 seconds.
I bring up the Columbine thing to support the statement that just because something is legal, doesn't mean its right. Our cozy-with-guns heritage is just fine, but it has caused some unthinkable shit to happen and a little more reverance would probably do Mr. RamboPants some good. I know the cops in Littleton wouldn't think twice about locking that dipshit up. But then again, their state isn't the laughingstock that ours is.
Tell me this, Tater: If a black guy was doing that in East Nashville, what do you think the Police would do?
Burrito, I'm not arguing your basic premise. My point is that if it's not right, why is it legal? And if it is legal, why should he be hassled? He's just demonstrating the absurdness of the law (not intentionally, but regardless).
