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.