Guns in restaurants revisited (again)

Last year, attorney David Randolph Smith successfully filed suit, and had the restaurant carry law suspended. This is a law that was vetoed by Governor Bredesen, and decidedly overridden by the legislature. This year, as reported in the Knoxville News Sentinel, Smith is at it again. This time his client is an anonymous server who alleges that the restaurant carry law creates an unsafe workplace for him. A complaint has been filed with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Work force Development, reports the newspaper.


Governor Bredesen, who, I am sure was embarrassed by the Legislative override both last year and this year, states that it's "a stupid idea" to allow handgun carry permit holders to bring guns into establishments that serve alcohol. Governor Bredesen still has not answered my question from last year:

Let me guess, Phil,
If you go into a restaurant that sells alcohol, you have the option of bringing armed security with you. You can hand off responsibility for your safety to these public servants.

But, I can't do that. I can only depend on myself, as can all ordinary citizens. Your veto continues to deprive us of the means to effective self-preservation, which you are able to provide for yourself at our expense.

So, my question once again is, do you ever take armed security into restaurants with you? I would appreciate a reply.

Thanks,

Liston

The Guv never answered, and it is a good thing I did not hold my breath. Otherwise, I would be looking like a Smurf by now.

Now, we will just have to wait and see if Smith is successful through the complaint/litigation process this time. Never mind that thirty-one states have laws that allow carry in restaurants.

When will politicians/lawyers quit trying to use the doctrine of prior restraint against the Second Amendment?

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Traveler's Advisory for North Carolina

Notice to Knoxvillians and all Tennesseans.

If you are traveling to North Carolina, be advised that a State of Emergency has been declared there. Leave you gun at home. Under NC law, carrying a firearm away from your premises is illegal during a declared emergency in NC. This means that the Tarheel State is currently a Gun Free Zone.  Read more from Paul Valone here.
 

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Tennessee Firearms Association Knoxville Chapter September meeting

                                                                                                                                

 

TENNESSEE FIREARMS ASSOCIATION

KNOXVILLE CHAPTER

THE SEPTEMBER MEETING WILL BE HELD ON

TUESDAY EVENING September 7, 2010

Our guest speaker will be Joseph G. Jarret, Esq., Knox County Law Director who will speak about the current assaults

on the Second Amendment.

Meetings are held at the Gondolier Restaurant in South Knoxville just off Chapman Highway, behind the iHop, in the Lowe’s plaza, please note that the gratuity may be added to your check. A pre-meeting social hour is from 6 PM to 7 pm during which you may wish to eat dinner. The meeting will begin at 7 PM and end at 8 PM. Participation by those in attendance is always encouraged. Firearms are permitted in this restaurant, pursuant to current law.

Gun owners, persons involved in the shooting sports, Second Amendment supporters and interested public are urged to attend, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO ATTEND. For more information contact:

Bill Noll; wsnoll@comcast.net 865-688-0321 or

Charlie Thoms; Cthoms43@aol.com 865-233-4561

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TFA Websites:

http://www.tennesseefirearms.com

http://www.tfaonline.org/memberforum - open to the public. Good discussions

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“That the citizens of the State have a right to keep and bear arms for the common defense, but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.” Tennessee Constitution, Article 1-Declaration of Rights, section 26

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Harry Reid

In a move that I must admit surprised me, the NRA has announced that they will NOT endorse Harry Reid for Senate this election.

H/T to Say Uncle.

Now, the question in my  mind is, "Will they endorse his opponent, Sharron Angle, or will they just sit this one out?"

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Be careful little voice what you say (to the police)

Pastor William Duncan of Elizabethton, Tennessee learned a hard lesson July 4th weekend. He was vacationing in our nation's capital, when he was incarcerated for having firearms with him. You can read the story HERE in the Johnson City Press.

Duncan's lesson was that laws vary concerning firearms possession in the US, and Washington, D.C. has some of the most despotic! Although he has a Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit, the District does not honor carry permits from any state.

Here is a video interview from Tricities.com:

What can the rest of us learn from Duncan's unfortunate experience?

• Even with a valid permit, there are certain places you cannot carry.
• Don't assume that your permit is good in every jurisdiction. 
• Check before you go. A good resource is HANDGUNLAW.US.
• We should 'what if'' situations.
• Innocently answering police questions can bring trouble in spades. So exercise your right to remain silent:

The thing is, we can easily wander into situations that create trouble for us. Duncan, according to the story, innocently - a) entered the boundaries of the District of Columbia, b) entered a parking lot that happened to be a Federal parking lot, and c) had a meeting with an inquisitive officer. We could say, "Tsk, tsk, he should have known better than to go to D.C with a gun, but let's be fair.

Krutch Park in Knoxville is posted, yet there are no signs. Have you ever walked through there while downtown at Market Square? 

National Parks and Forests are generally not posted, but Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) property is. National Park Rangers are trained to ask if you have any weapons in a routine traffic stop. Do you suppose TVA police might ask, also? You could be innocently boating with your chrome plated Mossberg on board to repel river pirates, and if you come ashore for a pit stop at a TVA park, this puts you in violation.

And now, based on Duncan's experience, I suppose it would be advisable to call ahead before making a reservation, and find out if - a) weapons are banned at your planned hotel, and b) if the hotel shares a parking lot with the Feds.

And, what should you do if you are flying nonstop Knoxville to Denver, you have a handgun legally checked in your baggage, and you get grounded overnight in Chicago? For me, its a rental car to Indy as soon as the roads are passable. I will not try to check a gun at O'Hare after spending the night in Chi-Town.

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Camping with the three bears

Indian Boundary Lake photo by Liston Matthews

I went camping in the Cherokee National Forest last weekend. a friend and I went to the Indian Boundary Campground (35.40167, -84.10722). We set up camp Friday afternoon, and within a few minutes we were talking to the campground hostess. She had come to welcome us to the campground and let us know that Mama Bear, Papa Bear, and Baby Bear had been spotted in the area. Note that we were on the back side of nowhere, and even if our cell phones had worked, we could be an hour or more from first responders.


We had prepared for this little outing by gathering up the usual camping supplies - tent, bedding, food, cooking equipment, etc., etc.,...


We had also each brought a handgun*. What we didn't bring was bear spray. Terry over at the Glacier National Park Travel Guide opined recently that one should not depend on a handgun for stopping a bear, unless one were "a trained cop." He recommended bear spray. Terry got some negative feedback on that, and admitted that he could be wrong.


Now, I have no experience with bears, but I know that there are those other than police officers who can be and are trained in the use of firearms. Police are not the only ones with the ability to make good use of them.


Bears generally avoid human contact, but they like what we eat, and are attracted by our garbage. Coming into camp and looking for food can lead to close encounters. Some literature recommends making loud noises in order to scare them away. Given time, I suppose a .45 ACP discharged into the dirt might fulfill that recommendation.


Given time, also, a pepper blast in the face might make the bear give quarter. So, I will say, take one or the other, or both. Police officers usually don't limit themselves to one weapon. Why should we?


Predators that attack humans usually do so because either we are just too close and they feel threatened, or they are suffering from some ailment which limits their ability to hunt their normal prey (Of course, if you are in Alaska, and get too close to a Grizzly while he is fishing, you might start to look like a Salmon).


For me, though, the prospect of a two-legged predator is of greater importance. These critters will use every ruse in the book to take advantage of you, and do whatever they desire to you. There are cases of them torturing, raping, and killing. Case in point, two Arizona escapees are suspected of killing two Oklahoma campers this summer.


The odds of any one of us having a close encounter with one of these human predators is low --- but, for those of us that do, it becomes a very serious matter. So, whether you are going to the wilds, are strolling in the neighborhood, or watching TV at home, your first line of defense is YOU.

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*Handguns???  - - From the Forest Service website:

May persons possessing handgun carry permits possess their handguns while in the Cherokee National Forest?

YES - Recent State legislative changes provide that individuals who possess a carry permit may possess their handgun while on Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) wildlife management areas, public hunting areas, or refuges open to hunter access. Because the Cherokee National Forest is managed under an agreement with the Forest Service, USDA and TWRA as a Wildlife Management Area this legislative change applies to the Cherokee National Forest. The handgun may not be used for taking game unless specifically permitted by TWRA regulation. For more information regarding this legislative change and related TWRA information please contact the TWRA at begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-800-332-0900      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit their web site.1-800-332-0900

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.