Tennessee 7th Senatorial District - - Campfield or Walker?

With five weeks left until the election, it is time for Knoxville citizens to revisit these candidates' response to the Gun Rights Quiz. Stacey Campfield and Randy Walker are running for the 7th Tennessee Senate seat.

Their responses to the Gun Rights Quiz are listed for Campfield HERE, and for Walker HERE. You can click the links to see their responses.

Here is my brief analysis --

Campfield believes there is only one reasonable gun law, the Second Amendment. Walker was not specific, he simply restated his support for the right to keep and bear arms (makes me think of John Kerry).

When asked about Vermont style carry, meaning carrying with no permit required (Now legal in Vermont, Alaska, and Arizona), Campfield is agreeable. Walker said,

I am unfamiliar with the laws in the State of Vermont, but I do support Tennessee’s gun laws.

Walker was rather vague with all his answers, repeatedly stating his support for the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Campfield, on the other hand, has a voting record that shows a strong pattern of support for the individual right of self protection.

Campfield, also, has consistently shown his concern for the unborn citizen, through proposed legislation, and his voting record.

So, I recommend Campfield.

-----------------------------------

Reading List

-----------------------------------

If you find this article to be informative or interesting, please share the link with your friends. Feel free to share the entire article, including this link back: http://goodhillpress.blogspot.com/

-----------------------------------

Save ten bucks. Join NRA or renew here for only $25.00.

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.

Say Uncle - 5 megavisitors

Say Uncle reports five million visitors to his blog.

-----------------------------------

Reading List

-----------------------------------

If you find this article to be informative or interesting, please share the link with your friends. Feel free to share the entire article, including this link back: http://goodhillpress.blogspot.com/

-----------------------------------

Save ten bucks. Join NRA or renew here for only $25.00.

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.

Conservative obituary

The late Donald Unsworth of Rome, GA, appears to have been quite conservative. His obituary includes this request from his family:

The family respectfully asked in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society or to the campaign of whoever is running against President Barack Obama in 2012.

-----------------------------------

Reading List

-----------------------------------

If you find this article to be informative or interesting, please share the link with your friends. Feel free to share the entire article, including this link back: http://goodhillpress.blogspot.com/

-----------------------------------

Save ten bucks. Join NRA or renew here for only $25.00.

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.

TVA parks last holdout against lawful carry

Last February, a Federal law went into effect that allowed handgun carry in National Parks. This law requires that the National Parks conform to state laws in the state(s) the parks are located in. For example, if the park is located in Tennessee, the park conforms to Tennessee law; if in North Carolina, the park conforms to North Carolina.

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, near Knoxville, straddles the line, and is in both Tennessee and North Carolina. Now, as a result of the Federal law, and a Tennessee law passed last year, people with Tennessee carry permits (or permits from other states, which are recognized by Tennessee) are able to carry in the Smokies. See related story HERE.

The Tennessee Parks Carry law that the Federal law conforms to allows for carry in state, county, and city parks, provided the local governments do not opt out. (In the case of Knoxville, there is local prohibitive ordinance that dates to 1962 that was grandfathered in last year. I'm guessing it was a Jim Crow law; and the Knoxville City council decided to keep it in effect.)

As it stands now, National Forests (part of the U. S. Department of Agriculture) have long been neutral towards firearms. National Parks are now on board, perhaps reluctantly recognizing the Second Amendment. But the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) still posts their properties against lawful handgun carry. . . .

In an effort to find out if there are any plans at TVA to move towards recognizing the Right to Carry, as enumerated in the Bill of Rights, and affirmed by the Supreme Court, I queried TVA:

tvainfo@tva.gov
Tue, Sep 21, 2010
subject    Handgun Carry Permits  
  
In February, A law went into effect requiring National Parks to conform to state laws for parks, allowing those with Handgun Carry Permits to carry their defensive firearm in the National Parks.

Does TVA follow the same procedure? If not, is there any plan to? Is this being looked at?

Thanks,

Liston Matthews
Knoxville

I got this reply from TVA:

Fri, Sep 24, 2010
subject    Handgun Carry Permits

Mr. Matthews

Thank you for your inquiry.  TVA is aware of the laws affecting National Parks and firearms.  Currently unless otherwise posted, possession and use of firearms and other weapons is permissible subject to all applicable state regulations on TVA land.  TVA doesn't allow hunting or the possession of firearms at developed recreation areas (campgrounds, picnic and boat launch areas), or power plant and hydro electric dam reservations.  At this time there are no proposed changes to TVA rules involving these developed areas.

Phyllis Wissel
TVA Environmental Information Center
800-882-5263

Seeing that there are "no proposed changes" to TVA rules, I asked the following of TVA:

Fri, Sep 24, 2010
subject    Re: Handgun Carry Permits
  
So, are you saying that as far as TVA is concerned, The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for personal defense, as affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States in the Heller and McDonald cases, does not apply in campgrounds, picnic, and boat launch areas?

Does TVA keep TVA police officers posted at these areas to provide for the security of citizens that your policy disarms?

I would appreciate an answer to both these questions.

Thank you,

Liston Matthews

If and when I get a reply, I will post it here. It seems unconscionable to me that this Government Bureaucracy continues to disarm law-abiding citizens, in view of the recent Supreme Court decisions.
What do you think?

-----------------------------------

Reading List

-----------------------------------

If you find this article to be informative or interesting, please share the link with your friends. Feel free to share the entire article, including this link back: http://goodhillpress.blogspot.com/

-----------------------------------

Save ten bucks. Join NRA or renew here for only $25.00.

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.

Justice Clarence Thomas visits University of Tennessee

Official photo from the public domain

Justice Clarence Thomas is visiting Knoxville and the University of Tennessee this week. Thomas judged a moot court at UT Law School, and is attending the UT vs. Florida football game today. For more on his visit see Matt Lakin's News-Sentinal column here.

Thomas was the sole justice of the Supreme Court to apply the Privileges and Immunities Clause to the McDonald case earlier this year, writing a concurring opinion agreeing with the majority.

Thomas believes in the original intent of the Constitution, as has been seen in his votes and opinions. The McDonald case was a landmark case argued by attorney Alan Gura on behalf of Otis McDonald of Chicago.

This suit was supported by Alan Gottlieb and the Second Amendment Foundation, which is "Winning firearms freedom one lawsuit at a time."

The McDonald case is important to Tennesseeans because it "incorporates" the Second Amendment to all state and local governments.

-----------------------------------

If you find this article to be informative or interesting, please share the link with your friends.
Feel free to share the entire article, including this link back: http://goodhillpress.blogspot.com/
Subscribe by clicking on the link at upper right.

-----------------------------------

Reading List

-----------------------------------

Save ten bucks. Join NRA or renew here for only $25.00.

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.

America at the Crossroads

I went to a great service tonight at Grace on Western Avenue. It was the first in a three part series titles America at the Crossroads. We meet again tomorrow at Wallace Memorial, then Tuesday at Concord.

America's problems won't be solved at the White House or the State House, but at the Church House, when God's people humble ourselves, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. Only then will he heal our land.

Come join us the next two nights if you live within driving distance of Knoxville.

-----------------------------------

If you find this article to be informative or interesting, please share the link with your friends. Feel free to share the entire article, including this link back: http://goodhillpress.blogspot.com/

-----------------------------------

.