David Codrea interviews David E. Young.

Alan Korwin notes:

Bass Pro Shops will be the title sponsor for “Media Day at the Range” for the next three years.

The fourth annual Media Day at the Range, scheduled for the day before the SHOT Show, will be on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009, at the Orange County Sheriff’s Range in Orlando. This event gives outdoor journalists the opportunity to handle and shoot new products from leading manufacturers.

Good. Now, why limit it to outdoor writers? After all, if you take regular reporters shooting, they may come back enlightened. As Robb noted:

The people that Mrs. Zaher met are not part of the violence that plagues this nation. It doesn’t matter how many guns they own, what caliber they are, their rate of fire, ease of use, or how they look - none of those people contribute to crime and therefore there is no reason to limit their access to weaponry.

I wish more journalists would take up the offers to head to the range or at least learn a bit about firearms.

So, here’s my offer: Any of you local media sorts who want to head to the range, drop me an email. I’ll make time. email me at:

Update: A local reader and certified NRA instructor has also volunteered to help.

URL that is.

WBIR has a new series of forums. One deals with guns and gun rights.

Throw those red light camera tickets in the trash?

bizgrrl notes the local religious fundies exercising their constitutional rights and scaring people (see here and here). I’m kinda curious who these ads are targeting too. They don’t seem very effective to me. I remember the ads a bit back that said:

Don’t make me come down there.

-God

They were at least funny. These are too preachy.

Boy, you shoot one red light camera and everyone thinks you’re nuts.

The local press could only find one Empty Holster Protester at UT?

Ain’t that the truth. Good luck to Dr. McIntyre. Once a TeeVee station finds out how much you spent on groceries, you’re doomed.

Via everyone, The Metropulse’s new web page does not suck. Still, it has no RSS feed that I can find and, as such, will remain unread by me.

Via Michael Silence, we learn of Knoxville’s Gentlemen’s Top Cuts. Seems someone thought that it would be a good idea to have a salon with scantily clad women cut men’s hair (duh!). They have a lot of pics there and they have a blog with pics and video.

Hell, I might start going. And it’s not for the scantily clad women. See, read their services. They offer something I’ve not seen done in years: the pre-haircut and post-haircut shampoo! And, you know, the neck massage. But, seriously, I get a cut and get hair all over and am itchy all day because at some point recently, stylists stopped doing the shampoo thing. That is why they’ll succeed. Well, that and the scantily-clad women.

Study says the cause accidents.

Meanwhile, red light cameras are good at tattling on themselves, particularly when people monkey with the timing. Glitch in the computer programming? Tell me another one.

A few days ago, I noted that on a local radio show:

Throughout the whole bit (that I listened to, anyway), not one person called in in support of more gun control.

Today, that changed. Dave Foulk (who has a blog) was basically stating that, in light of recent events, that if people wanted to be armed for self-defense reasons they should be. Even at church. He noted how the recent school shooting in Israel and the Colorado shooting a bit back and how armed good guys stopped them. (note to Dave: there are several instances of that occurring).

And then, for the first time, someone who was anti-gun called in. A guy named Nathan. Nathan, taking his plays directly from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Ownership play book, did everything we’ve come to expect from anti-gunners, including:

Calling us extremist, paranoid and delusional - Yes, our extremist position that is supported by the majority in this country. Our extremist position that had lead to 48 states passing concealed carry laws. And our extremist position that politicians pander to. Note that no one is seeking the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Ownership’s endorsement. But they want NRA’s because gun owners vote.

He also said there were no cases of church shootings. The host should have asked him if even read the news.

He also pulled the classic of changing Foulk’s argument from if people wanted to be armed for self-defense reasons they should be to you want to arm everyone. It’s easy to address an argument no one’s making, I guess.

Several callers phoned in to say Nathan was wrong.

Then, David called. He started right into Ravenwood’s Law and used wild west metaphors, which we know are inaccurate in addition to being stupid. Then he went into conspiracies about Israel and how Arabic Sultans (his words) bought our media. Oy!

I love when the antis open their mouths. They do our work for us.

The KNS:

A prominent Knoxville defense lawyer who fought to shed light on back-door governmental deal-making has since January been fending off a secret move to bar him from practicing law in federal courts, the News Sentinel learned Thursday.

U.S. District Chief Judge Curtis L. Collier in January filed under seal proceedings to strip attorney Herbert S. Moncier of his right to practice law in federal courts in the Eastern District of Tennessee, a move that if successful likely would take from him the ability to handle federal cases nationwide.

And people wonder why when the locals think of their politicians they think of shady back room deals.

Patchouli scented? Drive a Prius? One of the 12 people who still think it’s cool to hang in downtown Knoxville? Then the Metropulse wants you:

Metro Pulse will be revamping its website soon and introducing such 21st century innovations as online videos, photo galleries, and bloggers.

And only 8 years in!

Via KAG.

In Knoxville:

Authorities this morning said a 16-year-old Knoxville boy was killed during a weekend home break-in that prompted a gun battle inside the residence.

Jamodd Mack died in the 2:24 a.m. Saturday break-in at 1304 Iredell Ave., said Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk.

Mack and another person allegedly forced their way into the home through a back door, DeBusk said. Inside the home, Mack, who was armed with a handgun, was fired upon by a man who was visiting the woman who lives in the house, DeBusk.

Well, his recidivism rate was reduced to zero.

Received via email, comes this:

TENNESSEE FIREARMS ASSOCIATION KNOXVILLE CHAPTER

THE MARCH MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY EVENING MARCH 4, 2008

Our guest speaker is Sgt. Keith DeBow from Knoxville Police Department, training academy. The subject will be the revised training for officers regarding persons with carry permits and advice for those who have carry permits in dealing with police officers. This is a follow-up to the incident that Trevor Putnam spoke about to our group at our December 2007 TFA Chapter Meeting.

This is your chance to find out what information is being given to the Knoxville Police as it does directly affect all of us that have carry permits. It is in our best interest to know both the law and what the rules of engagement are for the local police. Although this may affect only KPD officers, the information we receive may well assist us if we are confronted by LEO’s from other agencies.

Wonder if ColtCCO will be there?

Actually, hats off to the KPD. They do seem to be making an effort at this.

Jack Lail: Boss Hogg couldn’t survive bloggers buzz

A snippet:

A bit of background and I’ll be brief. In Knoxville, Tenn., politics is played the Good Ole’ Boy way. Think Boss Hogg from TV’s The Dukes of Hazzard and its fictional Hazzard County, Georgia.

County organization charts read like family trees. Paid county employees hold county elected offices. Meetings are mere formalities for decisions made in used car lots.

Controversies break out among fighting factions aligned with politicos who control dollars and patronage, but rarely ripple out as interests to the average citizen.

And the voters? Don’t raise taxes and keep the schools open and most couldn’t tell you who represents them and couldn’t care less.

The Knoxville Chamber has set up a couple of blogs The Chamber Blog and The Workforce Blog. Excellent.

For voting the bums out:

Republicans repudiated the officials directly involved in the year-long political upheaval in Knox County on Tuesday, turning out all but two of those who had opposition in the county primary.

Really:

Last January the state’s Supreme Court ruled that term limits approved by the county’s voters more than a dozen years ago — and essentially ignored — were valid. The court also clarified that the county has a charter form of government; this means that if its structure no longer suits you, dear people, you have the right to change it.

So empowered, the people began to wonder. Is it time this county of 400,000 adjust to being more suburban than rural? Does it need 19, count ’em, 19 county commissioners? Could various political fiefdoms — the county clerk, the property assessor, the register of deeds — be broken up by having those elected positions appointed by the county mayor instead?

This is good to:

At curtain’s close, the 12 appointments included the son of one outgoing commissioner, the wife of another outgoing commissioner, the father of a sitting commissioner, a top aide to the politically muscular sheriff, and a businessman who years earlier had come out on the wrong end of a sexual harassment suit. It seems a catfish could have been appointed if properly connected.

According to some security guard with a master’s degree, it’s illegal to take pictures of public buildings you pay for:

When I got to to the building, I stood across the street with my wide angle (to fit the huge structure in the frame) and put the camera to my face. And after a few clicks of the shutter, I hear this man yelling at me, “Ma’am! Ma’am! You can’t photos here!!!” It was the security guard, and he was running down the stairs towards me. I immediately put my camera down by my side and ran across the street to the guard. I asked him what the problem was, and he suddenly went into a tirade about post 9/11 laws prohibiting the photography and videography of any federal properties. He went off about terrorism and national security and then threatened me with two years in the penitentiary for possessing images of federal property. I had to delete my photographs or else I would get two years in jail.

Via Silence.

The trooper who pulled over local porn starlet Barbie Cummings and, despite getting a little something, decided to write a ticket anyway, has been sentenced to probation.

The guy who shot the red light camera in Knoxville has a web page.

Via MKS.

Looks like the city government of Knoxville is looking to start a blog.

WATE gets in on the PSH:

Knoxville police are coming across more high-capacity weapons.

Lt. Greg Hoskins says he finds one last week particularly disturbing.

“On December 23rd we stopped a car with four teens inside, one just 15 years old. They had a semi automatic assault rifle, they had several handguns and magazines for those handguns,” said Hoskins.

He says there have been several similar situations.

“We have traffic stops and find rounds or magazines or weapons in cars where there is a group of people in the car.”

In the past, he says police would find someone with a handgun that might hold 8 to 10 rounds, now they are facing assault weapons capable of holding 100 rounds in a single magazine.

“The guys that shoot these high capacity weapons just spray them in all directions and that is obviously an extreme danger wherever this happens,” said Hoskins.

We do? I disagree:

Hoskins says people who carry such weapons are a major threat to police and the public.

I am? I carried a full size 9mm for years. Now, I carry a compact 45. Does it make me less dangerous?

I realize, of course, the cops are talking about potential criminals and not average CCW holders. But they should at least say that.

Via SIH.

No more direct flights to Vegas.

Looks like Katie Allison Granju has set up a new blog for locals.

In Knoxville, a man shot a burglar with an extensive criminal record as he was fleeing. Seems the burglar kicked in the door while a 13 year-old was at home.

Officers haven’t filed any charges against Harry Smith, 58. Smith, who has a gun permit, shot Coffey once in the head with a revolver as Coffey ran from the house at 103 Copeland Road, Dooley said.

Shooting someone as they are fleeing is, generally, a no-no despite whatever public service it may have been. Also, in Tennessee we don’t have gun permits, which seem to imply a permit for ownership. We do have handgun carry permits, which is likely what they meant.

Update: In comments, MarkF points out that the burglar was ‘fleeing’ toward a grandmother. If by ‘fleeing’, they mean running towards, then that changes the scenario substantially.

So says Michael Silence. I don’t really have an issue with the number of Tasers. Rather, I take issue with the fact police tend to use them when it’s not necessary.

Good:

An animal shelter board today refused to recommend changes in Knoxville and Knox County ordinances that would treat pit bull dogs different from other breeds.

Ten members of the board of directors for the Young-Williams Animal Shelter met for more than two hours today to review possible recommended changes in ordinances concerning dogs to city and county legislative bodies. While the board unanimously agreed that the city and county ordinances concerning dogs should be similar, they rejected the concept of a breed specific regulation.

Greatest name for a local blog ever: The sunsphere is not a wigshop

Awesome. For those who may not get it.

Via MKS.

A guy in Knoxville had enough of the red light cameras and put a few rounds in one. You’re probably better off trying to vote the bums out.

A little history was made last night as the Knox County Commission passed on first reading the Recall Amendment. What makes this unusual is that Charter Amendments are done either by County Commission or by a Charter Review Committee.

But this amendment to the County Charter was actually started by a group of Knox County citizens. The idea began in the comment section of the Knoxville News Sentinel. The comments section had only been in the Internet version of the News Sentinel for a few months. While not exactly a blog, people began to use it as a blog having long discussions about matters concerning local government.

Commenter Brian Paone wrote one day he would start a website for the Recall Amendment. He did, and soon an entire group of people including the founders of the Wheel Tax petition were on board. Starting in early October Paone’s group was seen everywhere on local television, the News Sentinel, blogs, and on radio. Commissioners Lumpy Lambert and Mark Harmon co-sponsored a resolution to hear the Recall Amendment in County Commission. County Mayor Mike Ragsdale signed the petition as did Tennessee State Senator Tim Burchett and Representative Bill Dunn.

When approved on second reading the Recall Amendment to the Knox County Charter will be placed on the August 2008 ballot and the people will have a vote. Score one for the citizens. Maybe the Internet will be a valuable tool in keeping local government in check?

State Sen. Tim Burchett wants to enact breed specific legislation mandating that pit bulls be spayed or neutered. The senator was also on the talk radio this morning saying that such programs in California have been successful. Unfortunately, such programs don’t exist in California as state law there prohibits breed specific legislation. It’s one area that Cali actually does correctly.

And breed specific laws are generally pointless for a variety of reasons, including:

Some breeds are hard to identify (pit bulls, for instance, refers to a class of dog and not a specific breed)

If a breed is regulated, people will just switch breeds

Pit bulls have a temperament rating similar to a Golden Retriever.

The factors that contribute to dog attacks occur irrespective of breed (see here and here). Those factors are, generally, the reproductive status of the animal (at least Burchett gets that part right); an animal that is not properly restrained; chained animals become defensive; and unsupervised pets and kids.

Update: Turns out, Cali does allow for spaying/neutering based on breed. I forgot about that. Cali still prohibits bans based on breeds, though.

The movement to amend Knox County’s Charter to include a recall provision is growing rapidly.

Recall Amendment leader Brian Paone of Knox County’s 4th District said, “The people aren’t going away on this one, if they won’t deal with it we will.”

That is leadership. That is what Knox County needs right now.

Mr. Paone’s group has contacted all of the Knox County Commissioners, County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, Law Director John Owings, and the Knox County Election Commission.

The message is very clear. The people demand leadership. If County Commission and the County Mayor cannot provide that leadership then the people will.

Yet sadly, or should I say typically, the response has been underwhelming; of the remaining 11 County Commissions only two have said they will support the request that Knox County Commission vote to approve the Recall Amendment. One Commissioner, Paul Pinkston, is opposed to the amendment and the other Commissioners are “undecided”.

Some of the excuses are quite pitiful. Commissioner R. Larry Smith said he, “has misgivings about how recall might be used in close elections.” Smith doesn’t even understand the amendment. Craig Leuthold says he will not discuss the Recall Amendment outside of a public meeting. Is he confused about the Sunshine Law or just afraid to confront the question? Commissioner Mike Hammond, who some think will run for County Mayor in 2010, is concerned about other districts having say in recall of district representatives. So will Commissioner Hammond now be recusing himself from all votes not in his District?

That is pitiful. The exact opposite of leadership. I agree with Brian Paone, lead, follow, or get out of the way.

Be an informed shopper.

Do you support Mayors Against Guns?

Do you support businesses who can’t understand the word No?

File this under consumer counseling. Why do business with bullies?

Pilot Corp. is suing the city of Loudon for the right to build a travel center at the intersection of state Highway 72 and Interstate 75.

The suit filed in Loudon County Chancery Court seeks to overturn the Loudon Board of Zoning Appeals denial of Knoxville-based Pilot’s request for exception to a 2005 ordinance prohibiting the building of truck stops within city limits.

The suit also asks the court to declare the current zoning ordinance vague, to approve use of the land as a travel center and to award Pilot its costs including attorney’s fees.

“Pilot expended significant resources and monies in acquiring rights to the real property based on the plain language of the City of Loudon zoning ordinance” and “representation of its agents” the suit claims.

Train wreck:

In accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. §8-44-106(c) the Knox County Commission and its members are permanently enjoined from further violation of Tenn. Code Ann. §8-44-101, et. seq.. More precisely the Knox County Commission and its members are enjoined from engaging in any chance meetings, informal assemblages or electronic communications consisting of, or between, two or more members of the Knox County Commission for purposes of deciding or deliberating public business in circumvention of the spirit or requirements of the Open Meetings Act.

Unlike the majority of states, Tennessee’s Open Meetings Act provides for no penalties against those violating the act. However, a violation of this injunction which will become effective at 12.01 p.m., Friday, October 5, 2007, may result in a prosecution for criminal contempt which, if proved, could result in punishments of imprisonment for a period not to exceed ten (10) days and/or a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) for each violation.

Brian Paone is mad as hell, but he is doing something about it. Mr. Paone has offered Knox County Commission both a challenge and a promise.

The challenge is for County Commission to live up to its recent commitment to insure better government. Paone wants County Commission to create a resolution in November to place a recall referendum on the ballot to amend the Knox County Charter to include a recall provision.

The promise to Commission is that if they choose not to pass the resolution for recall Paone and the citizens of Knox County will take the matter into their own hands with a petition drive.

So do you think County Commission will pass a resolution for recall?

Neither do I. Why not get started today? You can download the petition here. Have people sign in ink and hand deliver the petitions to the Knox County Election Commission at the Knox County Courthouse, #218, 300 Main St. in downtown Knoxville.

Judgement for the plaintiffs, the Knoxville News Sentinel and 9 individual citizens. The verdict is unanimous.

Chancellor Fansler will prepare his remedies which may take several days.

Read the rest of this entry »

I am watching on television the Sunshine lawsuit closing from Herb Moncier. Moncier is using a computer with pictures of Knox County Commissioners and former Commissioners. Each photo has been photoshopped to show cartoon balloons filed with quotes from prior testimony.

I am surprised that Chancellor Fansler has allowed this. It makes his court look like a farce. But on the other hand it is a powerful tool for Moncier to humiliate those Commissioners. These are still photos so some of the facial expressions really make these people look dumb.

Moncier has just made the claim, “They stole your government.” Moncier is even making the Knoxville News Sentinel reporters look foolish. I am surprised Rick Hollow doesn’t have a problem with this cute tactic. It must be difficult to be on the same side of the table with Herb Moncier.

This is on now on Comcast cable channel 21 and Charter cable channel 10.