People seem to like it, reasoned or not:

The newspaper was investing time and resources generating stories, but these other sites, run mostly as a hobby, were linking to those stories and moving the conversation about the articles elsewhere.

“There was a point at which KnoxViews was really taking off,” McElroy says, “and it concerned me as I thought, ‘Is the nexus of community dialogue going to be shifting away from the News Sentinel to an Internet forum, and what does that mean for our future?’”

KnoxViews had—and continues to have—an openly progressive tilt, so to forfeit the lion’s share of community dialogue to a site driven by a particular set of political and social values could have marginalized a great many other community voices; or it may have run them into their own respective realms, creating echo chambers of like-minded people rather than a Darwinian common ground where the best ideas survive.

So when the Sentinel relaunched its site in 2007, it linked comments to usernames and allowed them for every article. The effect was palpable. Randy Neal, founder of KnoxViews, says he immediately noticed an exodus from his site to the News Sentinel’s; with the help of some contentious local issues, before long knoxnews.com was hosting nearly 50,000 comments a month. The crisis of irrelevance had been averted.

Interesting. A forum was a threat to the local news rag. The local news rag opens comments and that impacts the forum’s traffic. Of course, about two years ago, was also when Knoxviews decided that dissent would not be tolerated. I find that funny.

Voter turnout in Knoxville came in at 5%.

Lemaricus Davidson.

One of the killers in a local rape/murder trial was in possession of an M1 carbine.

Linoge’s experiences with open carry seem consistent with mine.

Also, he confirms that Calhoun’s has not posted a no gun sign. Which is odd since the owner, Mike Chase, was yammering in the press about guns in bars.

In Knoxville, Former Sheriff Tim Hutchison may run for mayor. Les Jones lists a few reasons why he’s not a fan of the man.

Back when the legislature was in the process of passing the guns in restaurants that serve alcohol bill, one of the vocal opponents of that bill was Mike Chase. Mike Chase yammered on about Wild West shootouts and whatnot along with a host of other ‘ifs’. (So, Mike, how many shootouts you had?).

Anyway, I find it ironic that this righteous crusader reportedly hasn’t banned guns at his own establishments.

The County votes in favor of allowing guns in parks. Now, when I go to parks, I’ll have to remember if I’m in the city or county since they have different rules. These little local differences will lead to state preemption.

They either support gun control or support gun control. Cammack even says we crazy gun nuts need to stop being all gun nutty because we’re making people nervous. Well, outside the lefty blogs who get twitchy over anything gun related, I haven’t noticed a lot of nervousness.

Meanwhile, though not a Democrat, Haslam releases a presser clarifying his rather unclear statements before. Only, it doesn’t seem to have clarified much. He seems to be saying that those who break the law should be subject only to civil penalties and not criminal penalties.

Knoxville banned the law-abiding from going armed in their parks. And that ban will stand. Now, only criminals will be armed there. No surprise there. But this is a bit interesting:

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, who’s seeking the Republican nomination for governor, didn’t vote but gave the vote his support, saying the intersection of greenways and gun-free zones such as schools would make repealing the ban impractical.

“I think the best course of action would be to keep the ordinance we have,” he said.

This could be an issue for Haslam later.

Via AC, comes this bit in the Sentinel which says:

Guns in parks ban evokes threats
Two officials who support idea get e-mail they deem ‘threatening’

Definition of threat:

1 : an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage

Perusing the article, I see no actual threats. I see these folks talking about how they feel threatened. But no actual threats. Odd that. And:

Broyles has taken no legal action to investigate the e-mail.

and

I felt very threatened personally, but they did not say anything that would injure me. My fear was damage to property.

Did anyone actually threaten your property? You just said they didn’t threaten you, which pretty much makes the article bunk. If there were actual threats, by all means let’s see them. And I will gladly condemn anyone who is threatening our local politicians because it’s criminal, does more harm than good, and should not be tolerated. If there are threats, they should not be tolerated and you should prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. But the fact you’ve taken no legal action leads me to believe your accusations are probably overstated.

Just because someone uses harsh language to disagree with you, it doesn’t mean they are threatening you.

Some idiot in Knoxville decides to pull a gun on another driver. The problem with her plan was the other driver was an off duty police officer. The woman had a handgun carry permit. The local paper asked hard hitting questions like if the incident might have been caused by road rage. Gee, ya think?

Insty has a photo of a sign outside the Bonefish Grill that says they don’t want law-abiding gun owners to spend money there. Someone should tell them their sign doesn’t appear to comply with Tennessee law regarding posting weapon prohibition.

The bill was postponed. Apparently, there may be some compromise in the works to allow carry except when there’s an athletic event at a park. You know, the same argument about mass shootings at little league games and all that. If sporting events are so dangerous, clearly we should just ban them. For the children.

The guns in parks issue was said to be resolved since Knoxville had an old law on the books banning possession in parks. Steve Hall has proposed an ordinance repealing the ban and the meeting is scheduled for tonight. This could be an interesting meeting as Stacey Campfield reports that Mayor Bill Haslam plans on weighing in on the issue. Haslam is running for governor and made the mistake of joining Mayors Against Guns. He later realized his mistake and quit the group (Good for him). This could get interesting.

Meanwhile, in Oak Ridge:

A proposed petition drive to trigger a referendum on overturning a City Council resolution banning guns in city parks has run into problems before it could begin.

According to state law, the Tennessee Constitution and Oak Ridge’s City Charter, referendums on such resolutions can’t be held, City Attorney Ken Krushenski said Monday.

I mentioned the city council agenda item earler, now Stacey Campfield notes the gun owners are getting active:

We need all who can possibly do so to come to this meeting. If you wish to speak to Council on this issue, call the City Recorder’s Office at 865-215-2075 to sign up. Sign up EARLY Monday, August 24.

Come dressed for business. No weapons allowed in the building. Arrive early, because you will have to go through a security checkpoint.

As it stands, seems city law already bans weapons in parks. On the 8/25 meeting agenda is a resolution introduced by Steve Hall that reads:

An Ordinance to amend Section 20-60 of the Knoxville City Code so as to delete therefrom the provisions prohibiting the use or possession of firearms or weapons within City parks.

The local alt weekly polls local bar owners on if they let law-abiding gun owners carry there. They have an article on it here.

Bjorn visits King Tut’s. Me and the Mrs. went there a few years back and I’ve been meaning to go again. The food is excellent.

In Knoxville, people seem to forget that trying to burst into someone’s home is a good way to have your insides introduced to the light of day.

Panel in Knoxville recommends banning guns in parks (note: guns are likely already banned there). And it’s an election year.

Via Michael, comes this:

An improper vehicle search by police, along with missing evidence, has led to the dismissal of charges against alleged red-light shooter Clifford E. Clark III.

Charges of felony vandalism and reckless endangerment were dismissed in a written order issued Friday by Criminal Court Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz.

The circumstances surrounding Clark’s arrest as a suspect were not sufficient for the arresting officers to search his vehicle without a warrant, the judge ruled.

Like Nashville, it appears that Knoxville already has a law on the books that prohibits the possession of firearms in parks:

Hunt, trap or pursue wildlife at any time. No person shall use, carry or possess firearms of any description, air rifles, spring guns, bows and arrows, slings or any other form of weapon potentially inimical to wildlife and dangerous to human safety, any instrument that can be loaded with and fire blank cartridges, or any kind of trapping device. Shooting into park areas from beyond park boundaries is forbidden.

Via Knoxview.com, who notes:

Knoxville City Council Workshop, re. Resolution to prohibit handguns in public parks and other public places, Thursday, August 20, 2009, 5:00 pm, Main Assembly Room of the City-County Building, 400 Main Street.

Interesting.

Knoxville News Sentinel Editor Jack McElroy on why it’s OK to be the propaganda arm of the anti-gun crowd:

Because alcohol service was the critical factor addressed by the law, and because all bars were deliberately included in the bill, calling the law a “guns in bars” law is really a fairer description of the legislation than the “guns in restaurants” title its proponents put forth.

Odd. Since, just before that, you noted there is no definition of bars in the TN code. Seems pretty twisted to me. After all, bars is a difficult term to define since the law doesn’t spell it out. And establishments that serve alcohol is definitely a more accurate term and factually correct in nearly every case.

But that’s not the best part. This bit in the KNS a couple weeks ago makes it funny:

A proposal allowing off-duty law enforcement officers to carry their weapons in Tennessee establishments that serve alcohol has been signed by the governor.

Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen signed the measure late last week and it takes effect immediately.

Supporters of the law say it’s necessary to make sure law enforcement officers receive the same privileges as handgun permit holders under another new law that takes effect Tuesday. Under the measure, handguns can be carried in bars and in restaurants that serve alcohol.

Note in this article it’s not until handgun carry permit holders are introduced that establishments that serve alcohol mysteriously become bars.

When it’s for police they refer to establishments that serve alcohol. When it’s for handgun carry permit holders, they’re bars.

Nope. No bias here.

Knoxnews:

The decision of whether the city of Knoxville should opt out of the new “guns in parks” state law was postponed until Aug. 25 by City Council members Tuesday, albeit begrudgingly by some.

The postponement, unanimously approved, was proposed for the sake of waiting until all nine council members could be on-hand to discuss the hot-button issue.

And this is troubling:

Pelot said she’s still undecided — she was leaning toward the side of gun-rights advocates on the issue, until recently when the tone of many of their e-mail messages became more “alarming.”

“I haven gotten the most mean-spirited e-mails … from these so-called well-trained, law-abiding, permit-holding people,” Pelot said. “If they can e-mail me in those tones, how do I know they’re not just as dangerous (as criminals)?”

Well, words are just words and do not translate to being dangerous.

Via RedDog comments:

Are our supporters “shooting us in the foot”?

When you (and I’m not saying it’s you) correspond with your representatives, being hostile is usually not a good idea. Be friendly and matter of fact. Writing nasty letters isn’t the best approach.

Item 11.O on tonight’s City Council Agenda is:

A Resolution to prohibit handguns in public municipal parks, natural areas, historic parks, nature trails, campgrounds, forests, greenways, waterways, or other similar public places.

You can contact the council members using info at this link.

Item 11.O on tomorrow night’s City Council Agenda is:

A Resolution to prohibit handguns in public municipal parks, natural areas, historic parks, nature trails, campgrounds, forests, greenways, waterways, or other similar public places.

You can contact the council members using info at this link.

Blogger criticizes local politico. Politico’s cronies tell his boss.

I did not know that the Sunsphere had it’s own wikipedia page, with a detailed history of it.

Apparently, Haslam dodged the question about whether or not he supported a ban on lawful carry of firearms in parks. Via Knoxviews.com, who seems to think marginalizing a minority is OK.

In Knoxville, a man walked right through a restraining order and shot two people. You can’t have a gun when you’re subject to an order of protection.

I.C.E. Combat Focus Shooting Course to be taught at Coal Creek Armory.

If you’re going to be a carjacker, it’s probably a helpful job skill to know how to drive a stick.

Another bear sighting in Knoxville. Likely the same bear mentioned before.

ETA: looks like authorities found the bear and killed it, upsetting hippies every where.

A bear knocked in a woman’s front door and chased her through her house. I didn’t realize bears were hanging around in West Knoxville.

Local knife business to check out.

The Knoxville News Sentinel has an editorial that advocates TN not pass a law restricting access to handgun carry permit data. Well, if newspapers such the KNS’ sister paper The Commercial Appeal weren’t publishing lists, this would have never come up. If the press showed better judgment, this would not be an issue.

Starting a campfire with blackpowder leads to minor injuries at local school.

Guns aren’t allowed on campuses.

Knoxnews:

Parks officials in Knoxville and Knox County oppose a bill before a state Senate committee today that would allow city and county governments to decide whether to allow people with carry permits to take guns in local parks.

Well, they can still decide to ban them in their parks. Bonus PSH:

You take a ballfield situation that could be very heated and you have a coach or a fan that could get upset, a gun would not make that much better. We’ve already found a gun that fell out of someone’s pocket. Luckily a child found it and went to their parent.

Unpossible. Guns aren’t allowed there.

Even our local paper is falling for the lies:

The permitting process is clearly flawed. A study last month by the Commercial Appeal in Memphis found as many as 70 Shelby County residents were issued permits despite criminal histories, including arrests for robbery, assault and domestic violence.

Now we learn that Jiverly Wong, the Binghampton shooter, was also a qualified handgun owner. He mailed a copy of his gun permit to a television station before going on his killing spree.

This was in between gratuitous references to Columbine. Like the hacks in the AP, Jack is conflating a permit to carry (like we have in TN) with a permit required to own (like they have in NY but do not require in TN).

The Doc reports that there is a website for Knoxville’s protest.

You know, if I want to be exempt from restrictions on carry, I should just become a Special Deputy:

Knox County Commissioner Greg “Lumpy” Lambert said he wasn’t armed when he confronted a citizen during a public meeting. However, he is one of a small number of elected officials who can carry a gun in the City County Building.

[...]

10 News also asked Lambert, who’s been very public about owning a gun, if he carries one to commission meetings.

“It is not my practice,” said Lambert. “I may have inadvertently. I am a bonded deputy through the Sheriff’s Department, so I’m not going to say I’ve never accidentally carried a weapon into the courthouse.”

And:

Lambert said be became a special deputy after he received death threats and became a witness in a murder trial.

So, can I become a special deputy or am I just limited to my handgun carry permit? I mean, not being an elected official and all.

Tax Day Tea Party has the details for the 4/15 event.

Local Restaurateur Mike Chase chats with Betty Bean about the guns in restaurants bill. Mr. Chase owns a few of the prominent local chains, most of which are OK but Calhoun’s has some good beer that they brew themselves. I like their Porter. Says Chase:

Water goes with scotch. Coke goes with Jack Daniels – but guns and alcohol just don’t mix

Water never goes into Scotch.

And guns and alcohol do not mix, which is why the bill in question and Tennessee law in general prohibit drinking while being armed. But facts aren’t at issue here, I suppose. That’s why the debate is usually framed as guns in bars because if we framed it honestly as, say, the guns at Pizza Hut bill or I don’t want to leave a gun in the car when I hit the Ruby Tuesday’s salad bar at lunch bill then that doesn’t really get the emotional reaction you’re going for here. And we can’t have that.

Last night, I stopped off at a local eatery to grab some food to take home. I didn’t know if the place served alcohol or not. So, I had to decide whether to leave my gun in the car or take it with me. Looking at a coin flip, I erred on the side of not leaving the weapon in the car. Went in, picked up my food, and still don’t know if I broke the law or not. I didn’t see alcohol advertised there. But it could have been on the menu. That’s how the debate of this bill should be framed.

Chase continues:

It’ll be worse than the Wild West – back then, they wore their guns on their hips where you could see them. Wyatt Earp made them take off their guns when they went into bars. This is ridiculous. Crazy. There are a million scenarios where this could be a disaster – jealous boyfriends, jealous girlfriends, jealous spouses. It’s a bad, bad idea, and whoever is pushing it is absolutely irresponsible. I am always going to oppose anything that will endanger my customers and employees.

Starts off with Ravenwood’s Law. But those scenarios play out with almost the frequency of winning lotteries. And they would also be illegal. You see, all of Tennessee’s neighbor states, except North Carolina, allow handgun carry in places that serve alcohol. And they don’t experience any sort of substantive increase in deadly situations. And you’re in luck, Mr. Chase, since even if the law passes, you, as a property owner, can still prohibit the carrying of arms at your establishment.

Via Linoge who has a lot more.

Update: More here.

Update 2: Will he ban cars in his parking lot?

A Knoxville school board member has had his handgun carry permit revoked because he decided to threaten his wife with a handgun. And, given he faces domestic violence charges, if he is convicted, he will become a prohibited person unable to lawfully own a gun.

In Knoxville and Maryville. If you’re reading this, stop. Go be safe.

My wife reports that our grill cover has disappeared.

Did you know Knoxville had a girl’s Roller Derby team? Me neither. I didn’t even know roller derby existed outside of movies.

Somehow, we have one in East Tennessee. Who fell asleep at the switch?

A letter to the editor from one Jim Winston:

According to patrons at these shows, the AK-47 carbine rifle brings up to $1,600. These type weapons serve no purpose in a society with a professional army and local police departments. Fully automatic carbines and pistols are not sporting weapons. The primary use of these weapons is superior fire power over the police and army.

And there are no fully automatic anything for sale at these gun shows for $1,600. It’s OK. I can see how you’d be confused since the press lies to you about assault weapons. Continuing:

Too often, these weapons fall into the hands of thugs, the mentally ill or rural terrorist types. We are guaranteed the right to own our pistols and rifles by our Constitution. But it is out of control now.

I guess the only bleeding hearts are the innocent victims left lying at the crime scene.

Our legislators should avoid lobbyists of these gun profiteers and stand up for the police and all innocent victims murdered with these weapons.

Ok, then.

Thirty minute wait to get in. Packed.

Update: $300 for an SKS

WASR for $700

Not an AR for under a grand.

Wow.

And the KCSO is figuring that out: Knox County sheriff’s pension fund in trouble already.

Local Blogger Rich Hailey has a piece in the local newspaper about teachers and guns.

Meanwhile, the teens weigh in. Of course, if folks thought teenagers’ decisions mattered, they’d be allowed to enter into contracts.

Today, Al Gore dumped a whopping 1/64th of an inch of global warming on parts of East Tennessee. So, naturally, everything is shut down and people are freaking out.

0%: When 19-year-old Deshawn Wright saw his mother threatened by two masked men, he grabbed a small floor heater and hit one of the men in the head with it, fatally injuring him, authorities said.

ColtCCO has had a run of bad luck. You’ll recall a bit back an incompetent policeman body-slammed him for lawfully carrying a firearm because (and I am not making this up) said policeman thought he was in Ohio.

Then, he’s traveling. Gets pulled over and finds out the his handgun carry permit was revoked. He gets his gun taken. And is charged with carrying a gun with intent to go armed. Turns out, his revocation was a mistake and he has to work extra hard to get his gun back.

Well, in a continuation on the theme of the bureaucracies continuing to screw things up, he’s had his handgun carry permit revoked for, and I am not making this up, that charge for carrying a gun with intent to go armed that was supposedly cleared up.

Some guys have no luck at all.

A recurring theme.

In Knoxville: Area gun sales increasing, cops on board with carry permits

Firearms manufacturing up, specifically handguns and rifles.

NSSF says:

Despite a weak economy, gun sales are continuing to increase amid concerns that incoming lawmakers will institute a new gun ban on law-abiding Americans. Data derived from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) show a 24 percent increase in firearm purchaser background checks for the month of December 2008 (1,523,426 checks) over December 2007 (1,230,525 checks). This increase follows a 42 percent rise in NICS checks for the preceding month, the highest number of checks in NICS history.

As Alan says: And it will make Sarah Brady cry.

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, a member of Mayors Against Illegal guns (see links here), addresses his membership at about the 9:30 mark, here. He just signed it and thinks they have six points everyone should agree with. I can’t find those points.

Obviously, he’s gearing up for his gubernatorial run.

Some bits:

[Bloomberg] has his own desire and thoughts about gun control that aren’t mine at all.

And:

I am not an advocate of gun control.

Good. The group you belong to is, though. You should reconsider and withdraw from the group. Many other mayors have.

There’s a Glock Shooting Sports Foundation shoot in Knoxville at the Volunteer Rifle & Pistol Club on Rifle Range Road (map here). Starts Saturday and runs through Sunday. I’ll probably be shooting in the sub-compact or amateur division since I am 1) a paper shooter and 2) my only Glock is a Glock 30.

When I stopped by Coal Creek Armory yesterday and congratulated their Employee of the Month, I bought one of these for the match because it occurred to me I did not have a magazine carrier for the Glock 30. I’m also thinking I should get one of these Galco belt holsters too. I have their Ultimate Second Amendment holster, which is great for concealment but probably not the best for competition. The belt holster seems like it could quite adequately perform double duty. What say you?

Update: And I showed my new mag carrier to the Mrs. She said it was very pretty. I have to admit, the saddle leather is quite nice.

After blaming Fulmer, folks today realized the team just sucks?

A letter to the editor in our local newspaper:

I’m not running for any office; maybe I should, but this is my plan.

Give every U.S. citizen $1 million each. I think that’s about 3 million people.

If my high school math serves me right that would come to $3 billion.

About 297M people short. So, KNS guys, how did this one actually get in the paper?

Sad to see him go.

The KNS asked a bit back if they should endorse. 75% said no they should not. They did it anyway.

They seem to have spent more pixels discussing endorsements than the actual, you know, endorsement.

I’d say Maryville.

There was a shooting at a Knoxville mall. R. Neal notes that a local politico was there and that the politico was armed. R. Neal asks:

Is it legal to be in possession of a handgun on private property posted “no weapons” regardless of whether you have a permit?

It is not, presuming a sign prohibiting weapons is posted in a conspicuous place (link). It’s been years since I’ve been to that mall but I don’t recall seeing such a sign.

Or does that not apply to elected officials?

Does anything?

Or is he a sworn deputy or something?

Dunno.

Update: Apparently Lumpy is like you and me, only better. He can carry at the mall, and is exempt from private property owners’ prohibitions.

Update: Maybe not. See (b)(2). Perhaps he is prohibited after all.

Yet another update: As I said, been years since I’ve been to that mall. But I’m being told that the Knoxville Center’s sign prohibiting carrying of arms is not a legal posting as the sign is not at the entrance and is listed as one of the mall rules once you get inside the mall. State law requires the sign at the entrance. Anyone know?

This week, at Coal Creek Armory for you local yokels.

I knew it wouldn’t go well but not that bad.

In the local paper, a local says, well, I’m not sure what her point is as it’s not spelled out very clearly. There are about six paragraphs of peace, love, and dope. And the rest seems to just be spewing random anti-gun tidbits that are poorly understood. So, I’ll try to address the points I think she’s trying to make. But the title is Sandra Rini says we should rethink term “Militia” , so we’ll go with that.Says Sandra, after quoting the second amendment:

This outdated provision from a Congress that never envisioned the modern military we have today is more fiercely protected than any other amendment in the Bill of Rights. America has more guns in the hands of private citizens than any other nation; an estimated 300 million. And the National Rifle Association boasts that we add 4.5 million annually.

I know. Those darn outdated provisions. We don’t really need a third amendment either, since it never comes up. And those dumb founders never envisioned that there would be advances is technology. That was just crazy talk back then. So, we should limit your right to speak only to pen, paper and a printing press since they didn’t imagine that Al Gore would give us the Internets. And all the amendments seem to be under attack these days (except maybe the third, which we’re not using so it should be repealed too).

And there is, of course, Sandra’s inability to read. After all, it’s pretty clear from the amendment that the the right to bear arms is not tied to militia service. You can get a grammar lesson here. And the fact that the supreme Court recently ruled exactly that. She goes on:

If another country invades the U.S. or our own government turns on its citizens (the things a Militia was intended to guard against), those 300 million guns may as well squirt water for all the impact they’ll have against such an attack.

The militia was intended to do that. And to quell rebellions. And to, if necessary, be a police force. Regarding guns not impacting an invading force, has she heard of a country called Iraq?

Six paragraphs of peace, love and dope omitted because you got better things to do.

And:

America’s first Congress ensured the future of the militia in the Bill of Rights with the Second Amendment.

Two centuries later, our well-regulated militia is called the National Guard, and the states provide the arms.

Sandra should maybe try doing a bit of research. She’d then realize that the militia is comprised of:

(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are—
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.

No need to rethink militia since it’s pretty clearly defined in USC. But we can’t have facts getting in the way of all that peace and love. And:

The security of the states is debatable; the safety of its citizens a fading memory.

Why is it you seem to think citizen safety negatively correlates to my right to keep and bear arms? Particularly, when there’s no such indication supported by, well, anything credible.

Sadly, we’re in the midst of a gun epidemic that kills 30,000 Americans every year.

Her number is, of course, misleading. More than half are suicides.

And the Second Amendment lives on.

And as long as I breathe, it will.

Hearing reports of a school shooting in Knoxville at Central High.

Update: Yup. Details at KNS.

Update: The student has died. Tragic.

On occasion, I listen to the local morning talk radio. Sometimes, it’s entertaining and has some quality stuff. Other times, it reminds me my neighbors can be a little preachy. This morning’s topic was Barack I like the Sprite in you Obama’s position on abortion. Full disclosure: it’s an issue that I happen to agree with him on except for that whole part about believing in Roe v. Wade (whatever that means).

Anyhoo, first caller I heard said, and I am not making this up, that Obama was sent to run for president by God to punish us for our government losing its way with respect to using God’s law.

Second caller (we get back to back God Squad call ins today) basically gave another sermon about getting God back in our government and how God founded our government. I shit you not.

Third caller (the God Squad Trifecta!) said something about how people always say abortion is between her and her God but that was bogus because, ya know, God didn’t say it was OK to have an abortion.

Update: After that, I couldn’t listen anymore. It was kinda like an alert went out that they were talking abortion and everyone was told: Quick! To the God phone!

Congrats to Straight Line Stitch, who has apparently scored a major record deal, in addition to a new female singer. It was odd seeing them on TeeVee the other day. Back in the day, a band I played in opened for them a couple of times.

Here’s a vid.

Unexploded civil war ordnance found in Farragut.

Today people will wonder how Black Wednesday died. Was it from the editorial saturation from the News Sentinel? Did Jack McElroy’s editorial advocacy turn off voters? Did people think February was all that was needed? Did the misleading and dishonest marketing campaign of the Knox Charter Petition signature collectors drive people away?

Or was Black Wednesday a myth? Was February only a highly charged Presidential Primary with Black Wednesday as tag along that meant nothing? Was this Black Wednesday movement ever real? Or was it an editorial illusion? Read the rest of this entry »

First, I don’t think papers should endorse candidates. That said:

The KNS has endorsed challenger Doug Overbey. I personally have stated I’ll be voting for his opponent, incumbent Raymond Finney because Overbey while in the house crossed party lines to vote for Jimmy Naifeh as speaker of the house. Jimmy Naifeh, you’ll recall, is our lying speaker of the house who keeps abusing his power to kill pro-gun bills. Likely it’s this reason that Finney has the endorsement of the NRA.

As to the KNS endorsement, they say:

Both men sponsored a number of bills that became law during the two-year session: Finney 25 and Overbey 38. In fact, Overbey’s total was more than any other House Republican and ran the gamut from revising medical malpractice laws to funding hospital trauma centers. Chairing a House subcommittee that dealt with health care issues put him in a good position to shepherd those measures, but it is important to note the bills passed with a Democratic majority.

So, number of laws is good? And one wonders why government at all levels is out of control. It’s because, by golly, there ought ta be a law! Sorry, not impressed. Less is more. On Overbey’s sell out of his party, the KNS opines:

And, beyond the rhetoric and spending, Overbey’s effectiveness in working both sides of the aisle and his energetic approach to issues give him the edge in this race and our endorsement.

On the church shooting, I have only posted information as I got it. The only post I did in which I wasn’t relaying some bit of info I found and was giving my opinion was when I noted why I carry at church. Some, of course, took this to mean that I was blaming victims because they chose not to be armed; or that I live in fear; or that I was saying that if one person had been armed this could have been prevented; or that I’m delusional; or gay. These people are all idiots. But I digress. I suppose it’s because I’m a gun blogger that a few folks expect that or something. They expect it so greatly that, even when it’s not here, they see it.

Anyway, my thoughts on the actual event are that a gun would not have made one lick of difference either way. The lunatic walked in and got off 2.5 shots. His third reportedly hit the ceiling because he was busy getting physically restrained by some brave men and women at the church. He was getting his ass kicked by pacifists.

The only difference another citizen with a gun would have made in this particular case is that instead of going to jail for three hots and a cot, Jim D. Adkisson would be going to the morgue.

The people who subdued him did so quickly and bravely. And hats off to them for that!

From undisclosed sources but, apparently, the shooter’s wife attended that church and she had an order of protection out against him.

Michael Silence:

In a 10 a.m. press conference I just watched, Knoxville Police Chief Sterling P. Owen IV said Jim D. Adkisson singled out the church for its support of “liberal” and “gay” issues.

Yup. Looks like some homophobia. Also, police recovered 76 shotgun shells. He got off three of them before being subdued.

Greg McKendry took a shotgun blast to protect those behind him. He died a hero.

This morning’s local talk radio interviewed a lady who was at the church during the shooting. She stated that the shooter got off the first shot, then the second, and the third shot was into the air because people were already taking the shooter down. She said the whole shooting part took less than five seconds.

Also, reports are coming out about the shooter, Jim D. Adkisson. Apparently, he didn’t like churches or Christianity. And one of his neighbors called in local talk radio this morning to say that the guy had, in the past, expressed anger at the fact that the Bible was confusing and contradictory. Maybe. But I think the Bible is pretty clear on that whole shall not kill thing.

Michael Silence has a round up of news, including that police found a letter from the shooter that may detail exactly why this crazy fuck is a crazy fuck.

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations on guns.

In Knoxville. One dead. Five injured.

The Mrs. often asks why I carry to church. It’s because shootings keep happening at churches.

In Knoxville we laugh at cities where the Waffle Houses are more than 30 feet apart.

I got married.

The NYT author who said Knoxville was referred to as “the couch” by locals but could not actually name a local who called it that has a bit on Knoxville in Garden and Gun magazine. In other news, there’s a Garden and Gun magazine. I actually did know that as my dentist’s office has it.

Knoxville starts enforcing leash law.

AC interviews Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam regarding future political aspirations, namely governor.

This is the part where, as promised, I remind everyone that Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam is a member of Mayors Against Guns. Mayors Against Guns is an anti-gun group headed by NYC’s Michael Bloomberg. It is funded, in part, by the anti-gun Joyce Foundation. Barack Obama was on the board of directors for Joyce for eight years, doling out money to fake grassroots gun groups.

Past coverage of this group here, here, here, here, here, and here.

What a whiner. No one was outraged. We were just curious. Funny how whenever the little people correct a reporter, it’s because they’re outraged or some such. It’s never genuine concern or anything like that.

And she still has not definitively answered the question. Another trait I’ve noticed in media sorts.

Google Street Views Knoxville.

Kinda weird but I plug in my office address and there’s my truck.

If you’re in Knoxville, CCA is offering 3 Day Combat Focus Shooting & Advanced Pistol Handling Class.

Speaking of training, you did go vote in the ParaUSA gunblogger contest where you could win some training too, right?

So, The NYT calling Knoxville the couch has got the locals up in arms. Michael Silence is trying to figure out where it came from and sent an email.

The NYT: KNOXVILLE is often called “the couch” by the people who live there.

Err, I’ve been in and around Knoxville since 1983. I’ve never once heard it called the couch.

And I know you have one Knoxville ex-pat at work there. Couldn’t you ask him? Other than that, cool piece.

BTW, the reporter has a cool last name.

Via Insty.

Update: BTW, other people having never heard of the couch, MKS and KAG.

Glad others hadn’t heard of it too else I would have questioned my K-Town hipster cred.

Rich:

I was watching the 11:00 news and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. On a night when Barack Obama claimed victory in the race for the nomination, they teased that story and went into their top story of the night, a UTPD bicycle officer doing a face plant that was caught on You Tube.

This is the lead story?

Well, in their defense, the nation is collectively over the Democrat primary.

The local paper notes I covered the NRA convention. In other news, the term gun porn is used by the media.

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.