Shout out
The Commercial Appeal published a list of handgun carry permit holders. Now, the TN Legislature is stepping in:
Tennessee lawmakers are ready again to try to muzzle state records that list who has a permit to carry a concealed handgun, and this time they are considering making it a crime to publish information about gun ownership.
Thank You, Commercial Appeal! Good job, guys. Appreciate you and your help.
February 24th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I’m a Tennessee State handgun permit holder, but I do not favor a law criminalizing the publishing of handgun permit names and info. That violates the First Amendment of publishers and editors…even those with whom I disagree for publishing it. The onus should be put on the the State government, since it’s the State which requires our information for the permit. State officials and agents should bear the legal responsibility to secure our information according to the 4th Amendment.
Of course, it’s a violation of the 4th Amendment to require it in the first place…as is a permit to exercise a right according to the 2nd Amendment and Article I, Section 26 of the Tennessee State Constitution.
February 24th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
I agree. But I won’t feel too bad about it. Reap, sew, etc. And I’ll make certain to taunt them a little bit less when they editorialize about their first amendment rights being trampled on in a show of solidarity.
February 24th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I’m just as happy to have the permit information require a bit more work to get than querying a database on a newspaper site. Make it like license plate info … you have to submit a request to the state in which you must detail your need to have the information.
We are scheduled for our carry permit class next month … it’s part of our pre-wedding festivities! I want to be ready in case I am attacked by a crazed spider monkey (I take even veiled threats seriously from such creatures, ya know). Then if BHO doesn’t stimulate my paycheck away, I will be saving up to get the XDm 9. Crazed spider monkeys don’t need to know if I can carry or not. Neither does most anyone else!
February 24th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Im In Memphis, where the Commercial Appeal has its office. I know much about the paper and some of those that work there. The paper had the address of the permit holders but took the address down. It still has the name, age date of issue/expire. This is not an issue of First Amendment of publishers and editors, that is for publishing news/events/reports not listing gun permits holders. If a person wants to know who has a permit they could go to TDOT just like everyone else. The paper is not listing the drivers of the city, they kill more and cause more harm then the gun permit holders. I did send e-mail to around 3000 people concerning this. I also have to add that those that are one the list are just permit holders, many do not carry a weapon. It is just damaging for my friends to walk up to me and say ‘I saw your name on the gun permit list’.
February 24th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Regardless of the First/Second Amendment and privacy issues involved in this situation (with apologies to those of another mindset, but my privacy and safety override the “public’s [nonexistent] right to know”, or someone’s desire to put up certain information), the irony of the Commercial Appeal’s recent actions instigating, propelling, and possibly even guaranteeing the success of this legislation is wonderful. Should this bill pass, I will most definitely have to send the entire staff a letter of thanks.
February 24th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
“The paper is not listing the drivers of the city, they kill more and cause more harm then the gun permit holders”
People like those who run the Commercial Appeal cause more problems than CCW holders do.
The whole thing comes down to violating the privacy of good, honest, people who’re being treated like criminals by self-righteous clowns like the CA’s editorial staff just because they own and carry firearms, which is NOT a crime. It SHOULD be a crime to do what the CA did!
February 24th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
If the State wasn’t violating our rights by requiring a permit with our personal info, then these anti-gun papers wouldn’t have any info to access and publish.
Eliminating the permit to exercise the right to carry arms for self-defense, that’s the final solution!
Article I, Section 26, Tennessee State Declaration of Rights
February 24th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
There is , like you said, nothing wrong with permit holders, the editor (Chris Peck) feel like people with permit to carry are dangerous. There are city councilmen who feel the sam way. This is just another way of attacking the citizens that are NOT afraid of trying to protect themself. No body from that paper was there to defend me the four times someone trird to rob me, they did meet my weapon each case, I work at night and have been shot too many times by thugs, they even came to my office one night shooting at the office door. To the paper Im the bad guy, maybe I should let the permit expire, and still carry a weapom me, like everyone else, then I would not have to care what the paper publish and people who has a problem with permit holders will be happy. Commercial Appeal, you dont need a permit to purchase a gun, alot of people are walking around with guns and no permit, publish them.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:10 am
I will state this simply, as I cannot elaborate. Chris Peck is personally responsible for this being printed, and is virtually the only one at the CA who wanted it done – there was vocal disagreement from the lowest levels all the way to the Publisher.
Chris is a dick, and not just because of his stance on this issue.