Legislators already saying they’ll fix it. I dunno. Doesn’t look like it would stand a court challenge to me. But I’m no lawyer.

And Rich notes the judge appears clueless.

People are asking me if the chancery court has jurisdiction over the whole state. I don’t know. Researching and asked a few of my legal correspondents and am awaiting an answer. Being a court of equity that settles disputes, this makes little sense.

Update: According to a former judge acquaintance, this ruling is not applicable anywhere but the county. Unless it is upheld by another court (which it won’t be), then it becomes case law.

Update 2: The TN Dept of safety advises that it is not the law anymore. Not sure if that’s an interpretation or some sort of ruling. So beware out there.

WizardPC notes the ruling went the other way. I don’t see how this ruling will stand. Seems that they presumed the onus of knowing restaurant laws was on permit holders. Bonnyman’s ruling is pretty asinine. I mean, it’s easy to tell if a restaurant serves food five days a week. They usually 1) have food and 2) post their hours of operation. Looks pretty weak.

Update: more from the city paper.

Starts today. Suit is kinda stupid. But WizardPC will try to blog about it if he can.

We don’t have a plan or anything. But we like talking about it.

A reader emails me this sign on the door at The Rendezvous in Memphis:

From Misc

Note that it is actually one of the few TCA compliant signs that I have seen. But when you walk inside, you see:

From Misc

Ok, then. A place I won’t eat.

That dumb lawsuit about restaurant carry is back in court tomorrow.

A County GOP group is ousting a member because he supports Ron Paul?

Nice. If I’m ever in the neighborhood, I’ll stop by.

Of Bredesen’s monument to government waste.

In Chattanooga, a church holds a handgun carry permit class for the congregation.

Of course: Auditors in the state Comptroller’s office has completed an audit of the state Comptroller’s office. There was no finding of anything improper.

A look at the TN gubernatorial race.

WizardPC tells us that:

One of the lawyers that wants the government to prohibit carry permit holders from going in restaurants that serve alcohol is defending those restaurants for selling alcohol to minors.

I thought Will Cheek was all concerned about safety and stuff?

Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester chastises the Republicans for hypocrisy.

Senator’s call sends inmate to maximum security

A bit back, there was a bill to restrict access to the list of handgun carry permit holders. It failed by one vote and the press told us that it failed precisely because our politicos wanted to use it for solicitation and marketing. And I reported where some idiots had sent me some unsolicited junk mail and noted I was a permit holder. Apparently, lots of folks are snooping through the list:

Supporters of blocking public access to the names and addresses of Tennesseans with handgun carry permits appear to have a hard time keeping their hands off the records.

An Associated Press records search has found copies of the state’s database of more than 257,000 handgun permit holders were recently requested by the National Rifle Association, the state Republican Party and a direct mail contractor that has done extensive work for the GOP’s legislative caucus.

Yup. Folks who advocated keeping the list private are snooping through it.

Went by the local gun shop to pick up the latest acquisition. No dice. Seems the Tennessee Instant Check System is down.

Odd article, I thought.

TN attorney to challenge red light cameras.

A lot of folks seem upset with the recent TN AG opinion that says a landlord can ban firearms on his property. Well, it’s the landlord’s property and so long as a tenant agrees in the contract or such a requirement is in the rules the tenant agrees to abide by, then that’s a matter of abiding by a contract. If you sign such a contract, you are bound by it. I can’t imagine many people would sign such a contract.

At the NRA convention, I met Ronnie Barrett of Barrett Rifles. Nice guy. This article says he may move the company out of state due to issues with the Tennessee Department of Transportation:

Barrett wants to widen Miller Lane and extend it by 550 feet, at no cost to the city or county.

Barrett says 4 years ago TDOT agreed to the project, but later changed its mind about allowing use of the public right of way along I-24.

He says, “They responded in writing, yes we’re in favor of this. The fence could be moved so the extension could go forward.”

FOX 17 asked TDOT for a comment but since a lawsuit has been field, state officials say they can’t comment on pending litigation.

Barrett recently completed a $4 million expansion, believing TDOT would allow the roadway extension.

Without it, the building isn’t accessible to commercial vehicles.

Despite the Commercial Squeal’s constant yammering, Bartlett did not pass a bill banning guns in parks.

Why does Nashville have 9 helicopters with thermal imaging? More than NYC.

You ever notice how education is always the top priority in an election year as opposed to the rest of the time when everyone couldn’t really give a damn?

Linoge reports that the Tomato Head (makers of crappy pizza that hippies like) has posted a no carry sign. I walked by the Tomato Head in Maryville the other day and didn’t notice a sign. Interestingly, they’re probably one of the first businesses to actually get the sign to comply with the law.

Rep. Debra Maggart is having a clay shoot and a few gubernatorial candidates will be there as well.

The various filings in Tennessee’s restaurant carry lawsuit can be viewed here.

The Tennessee AG has released an opinion which says that pardoned drug offenders can own rifles and shotguns but not handguns. The opinion is here but the page seems down so I haven’t been able to read it yet. But Tom Humphrey notes:

Cooper writes in the opinion released Wednesday that Tennessee’s firearms ban for felons has exceptions for those who have been pardoned, had their convictions expunged or have had their civil rights restored.

But Cooper says the law doesn’t provide those exceptions for handgun ownership by people convicted of certain violent crimes and drug felonies.

I’m not aware of the laws he’s referring to. So it should be an interesting read once the site comes back up. After all, I thought being pardoned and having your rights restored meant that you were actually, err, pardoned and had your rights restored.

Update: Looks like there are two laws at issue. And that a pardon does not erase a crime. Seems the logic is sound but I could see a case being made the other way.

Seen at ACK’s:

Senator Mae Beavers recently supplied a letter describing the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act passed earlier this year to the lead plaintiffs in a suit filed against the federal government, who in September claimed that both the Tennessee and Montana Firearms Freedom Acts were null and void. In the letter, Senator Beavers discussed the overwhelming support for this bill amongst the Tennessee General Assembly, with a total of only eight Senators and Representatives voting against the bill during session.

I really don’t think relying on that bill is a sound legal strategy. The lawyers I’ve talked to agree.

I guess they must have caught some legislators speeding or something because they suddenly realize that they’re are some problems with them.

In a previous post, I noted Ron Ramsey’s claim to be the only gubernatorial candidate with a handgun carry permit. I looked the other Republicans up in the database and figured he was correct. But Ron is apparently the only Republican gubernatorial candidate with a handgun carry permit. Because Democrat candidate Kim McMillan has one as well. More Democrats like this please.

Me and the family went to the Foothills Fall Festival, a pretty big to-do here in The City (My The City). Every year, they shut down a couple of blocks in down town to traffic, get some musical acts, some arts and crafts booths, a few bounce houses for kids, and all manner of good food including funnel cakes and ribbon fries (ribbon fries are awesome, by the way). We parked near down town and went and looked at the various nifty items for sale at the crafts area (including bat boxes and can-jos). We saw a 1,000 pound pumpkin and some tractors. And then, I crossed the line into a (gasp!) public park. At that point, I was violating the law since The City (My The City) opted out of park carry and I had my G-30.

Up to that point, I was on public streets and in a coffee house. In the latter, I was surrounded by hipster doofuses (doofi?). I didn’t know we had those in The City (My The City) as I’d never seen one before.

Anyway, at some point I looked up and realized I was actually in a park. I didn’t really notice entering the park until I was there. I’m a criminal.

I mentioned yesterday that I tried to meet lieutenant governor and gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey at the Foothills Fall Festival. Well, he decided to just introduce himself in the comments section of that post. And he offers this bit of information:

As you probably know, I carried the bill that allowed for gun carry permits in Tennessee. I am the only candidate for governor that has a carry permit. I am a huge advocate for gun owners in Tennessee, both as a state senator and Lt. Governor.

I was at the Foothills Fall Festival a bit ago and lieutenant governor and gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey and his posse (that’s what the wife called them) were there mingling with the crowd. I made eye contact and smiled, generally trying to strike up a conversation. I would have asked him if he had anything to say to Tennessee gun rights activists. Except that I never really could get his attention. Oh well. And, no, it’s not that I’m particularly intimidating or crazy-looking. It’s just that he seemed busy. Though it may have helped if I had shaved.

Except, they’re not. The actual flaw is because county clerks fail to report items to the TBI. These checks are used for gun purchases and for state employment, among other things. I wonder if it’s the same check for handgun carry permits as well? After all, there’s been a few cases where people who were legally barred from gun ownership have gotten permits to carry guns.

I wonder if the clerks report accurately to the federal system? Anyway, I would imagine the state needs to fix this. If we’re going to have background checks done by the state, they should work. Otherwise, they may want to use the national system.

Never was a fan of Corker when he ran. He was, in my view, one of the good ol’ boy rich guy network. But he’s started to impress me. Here, he explains why the public option isn’t that a good idea.

Tom Humphrey:

Several legislators criticized the use of cameras to issue traffic tickets Wednesday during a hearing on whether state laws should be revised to put more restrictions on the practice.

Representatives of police departments in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Gallatin told the House Transportation Committee that traffic cameras are reducing accidents and saving lives. But they faced sometimes critical questioning and comments from the lawmakers.

Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga, said private companies operating the systems are “making money had over fist” while “intimidating the daylights out of our citizens – particularly the elderly.”

Rep. Joe McCord, R-Maryville, said after Wednesday’s meeting that he opposes “privatizing fines for profit” and suggested consideration of a law to require that companies only receive payment for services rather than splitting revenue with cities, as is now the case in Knoxville and other municipalities.

At Range USA in Memphis:

ZOMBIE NIGHT!

Come test your skills against the attacking horde of the living dead!

Zombie killing night at

Range USA, Inc.

Friday, October 30, 2009 and Saturday, October 31, 2009

6:00pm-9:00pm

Advanced tickets: $10

Tickets at the door: $15

A ticket entitles the bearer to one run through zombie zone and includes the guns and ammo needed to kill the zombies. So, remember if you want to run more than once you need more tickets! We will have semi-autos, full-autos, and other special shotguns and rifles (such as the Kriss Super V).

Woohoo. Kriss Super V.

The one vote Republican majority in the Tennessee House just became a two vote majority.

My personal view is that everyone should adopt a couple.

Kidding aside, in Tennessee, there is a push to allow gays to adopt. And Martin Kennedy says the dumbest things about it:

There is no need for gay adoption, no compelling argument.

Well, if you say so, I have to believe it, I guess. After all, you’re a Kennedy! Actually, there are plenty of compelling arguments. One is that it is better for kids to be in a loving home than in state custody. Even if that home has gay cooties. And there’s also a compelling argument if, say, a parent is killed and willed their children to a gay relative.

Via Aunt B. who says that even though it may make Mr. Kennedy feel bad to be called a bigot, that he is one.

The TN GOP doesn’t have to do much to hurt the local Democrat party. The Dems seem to do a fine job themselves.

Looks like Memphis had their annual let the state destroy evidence free day. I have an old HG revolver somewhere around here that should be converted into a gift card. Any way, looks like the city got 160 or so guns this year. This press report says hundreds participate. Well, I guess 1.6 hundreds.

Michael notes our legislators received an award for openness even though they exempted themselves from open records laws.

Two big gun show promoters don’t really take issue with background checks at gun shows.

In Tennessee, a man is arrested for unlawfully carrying in a park. The stories seem to conflict but that man is, basically, fishing in a park with a gun. One side says there was some sort of argument and the other side denies that.

Also, the police wrote the citation incorrectly.

Via Main Street Journal, who calls it mistaken gun carry.

Apparently, a Democrat ad in Tennessee absurdly says that a Republican supports cloning. Jeff Woods tells them to knock that off. Sticking it to the man and bringing the righteous truth. Odd because absurd claims are more Jeff’s specialty.

Wamp wants to unionize EMTs and police?

ACK tells us that Bloomberg sent investigators to gun shows in Nashville to illegally buy guns. The AP report is here:

Investigators hired by New York City conducted stings at gun shows in states that have not closed the “gun show loophole” and found some vendors openly selling weapons to buyers who admitted they couldn’t pass background checks.

The stings, described in a city report released Wednesday, were conducted at seven gun shows in Tennessee, Ohio and Nevada. Those states are among the many that permit private unlicensed dealers, known as “occasional sellers,” to sell weapons at gun shows without conducting background checks.

A few things. Stings are done by police under color of law, which investigators from NY are not when in Tennessee. The gun show loophole is a scary catchphrase for lawful citizen to citizen transfer of a firearm. And occasional sellers are just regular citizens selling personal firearms.

That said, last time Bloomypoo tried this, the Feds were none too happy because he compromised their investigations.

Private investigators came to Tennessee and unlawfully purchased firearms. Now, if I were Bill Haslam, I’d probably come out with a harshly worded presser right about now blasting Bloomberg’s unlawful actions.

Update: In comments:

Notice that they stayed out of Virginia this time?

I wonder why

Update: In comments, Sean notes that the investigators could have been local. But there was that whole section of the report where they tried to buy guns while saying they were out of state and the dealers were pretty good about asking for drivers’ licenses. That would be illegal in the case of handguns.

George Korda dusts off all the old gun puns to address the gubernatorial race and guns:

It doesn’t matter what party. It doesn’t matter what office. The gun issue shoots straight to the heart of a subject of intense interest to an important bloc of voters. Depending on where they stand, politicians at all levels are either in, or out, of the line of fire.

The headline heard all around Tennessee: 70 cities say no to guns in parks. But the truthiness:

The Union City Daily Messenger printed an article from The Tennessean stating that 70 cities have banned guns in parks.That may sound like alot but below you will find the facts. According to Tnhometownlocator.com there are 95 counties and 343 incorporated cities in Tennessee,that is 438 entities combined.That leaves 368 that have not voted to opt out,or not voted at all.If my math is correct that means 5 out of 6 allow it.So much for fair and balanced media.

Michael Silence at the local paper on the guns in parks stuff:

The shameless grandstanding on this meaningless topic has been pathetic pandering. And by the way, how much time has been spent by various state and local lawmakers this year on guns-in-whatever topics as opposed to say, oh, education?

Trouble is, the pandering by lawmakers, time spent on the issue, and the bogus claim that it was the year of the gun are all overstated and exist largely in the imagination of Tom Humphrey. This year, the legislature passed five or so gun bills out of how many total bills? Hardly a giant margin. Knox County passed one gun resolution, out of how many? Thirty or so? A whopping 3ish%? Hardly an indication of how much time is spent on this.

Where most of the time was spent on these non-issues was at editorial boards and opinion pieces at your paper. Just saying.

Tennessee’s AG, who is ordinarily a pretty pro gun guy, has issued an odd opinion. Essentially, the opinion states that whenever a park is in use by schools that triggers the no guns in schools laws. So, I suppose that if the schools plan a meeting or trip to some other government owned property, those properties mysteriously transform into schools too? An odd opinion, to say the least. And, as a reminder, while the AG likely has considerable sway, his opinions are non-binding.

At least, that’s how I read this.

It’s funny watching our Tennessee lefty blogs. 99% of the time they march lockstep together. Not usually any varying opinions there. And when they do disagree and fight about it in public, it’s over something stupid. The latest is there’s this Tennessee politico named Jim Cooper. And Jim Cooper hasn’t taken a nice big healthy swig of the free health care insurance for everyone kool-aid. You know, probably because he has at least a rudimentary understanding of economics and wants to get reelected. Apparently, the idiots at Kos decided to take back his progressive decoder ring and launch an all out blitz on the guy. If I was Cooper, I’d be happier than a pig in a nice big pile of Kos given their history of backing losers. Based on odds, it’s definitely a good thing.

Oh, and there’s that other thing. See, they don’t even have another candidate yet but they’re talking about beating him in the primary. Man, these dudes are smart.

And the good little kosmonauts are quick to throw their otherwise like-minded friends immediately under the bus. While under the bus, look around for ending the war in Iraq, opposing the PATRIOT Act and all that other stuff our progressives were yammering on about a few short months ago but have since forgotten about. Good times.

Odds a newspaper accurately reports on guns:

The Tennessean is the only Nashville news outlet to correctly report that felon who sold the gun that killed Steve McNair plead guilty to felon in possession of a firearm.

One of my criticism of the various municipalities banning carry in parks was that it would create a patchwork of laws that no one could keep up with. And that if you happened to wonder through a park while otherwise lawfully carrying, you’d break the law, like if you cut through the World’s Fair Park as a shortcut while perusing Knoxville’s downtown. Well, Tennessee’s AG says that’s not the case. He also answers a whole mess of other questions, such as sign posting requirements. But this is a bit dangerous:

A handgun carry permit holder who carries a firearm into a county or municipal park where the county or municipality has prohibited such carrying could still be convicted of violating Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1311 even if such county or municipality failed to comply with the posting requirements that are set forth in section 2(e)(2) of Chapter 428.

Update: A reader emails:

This might be a good time to remind folks that an A.G. opinion is just that, an opinion. Courts are not in any way bound by such opinions and regularly ignore them.

Good point.

Jeff Woods bring us July’s news, today.

First, let’s get this one out of the way. the Commercial Squeal:

Four months after the adjournment of a state legislative session dominated by gun bills

Ah, hyperbole. There were, what, four or five gun bills out of how many bills? Anyway, this isn’t a post about that, it’s a post about this:

Lawmakers heard testimony on a bill to allow people with handgun-carry permits to keep their guns in their locked vehicles on their workplace’s parking lots regardless of their employer’s policy on the issue. Current law allows employers to ban weapons from all their property, including parking lots.

The Rep asks whose rights are superior?

On one hand, a property owner can decide what otherwise lawful activities they allow on their property, which is also why I oppose smoking bans and such. On the other hand, my car is my property and their parking lot is available to the public.

Not a bill I’m particularly excited about.

Roger Abramson on drugs.

An auction of gun stuff near Nashville.

Opinion here. Some said letting cities ban was an unlawful delegation of legislative power. Nice try but, yes, cities can still opt out of allowing carry in their parks.

WizardPC tells us it starts soon.

If the legislators who passed the law are confused, how can they expect law-abiding citizens to keep up with it. And this is why we will see preemption.

Seen at ACK’s:

I just got word that Nashville’s Adam Dread and Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign, will debate two folks from the NRA about Tennessee’s guns-in-bars legislation and the Second Amendment in a panel discussion at UT Martin.

The event will be Monday, Sept. 14, from 7-9:00 pm at the University Center Ballroom at UT Martin. Apparently it is part of UT Martin’s “commemoration of the U.S. Constitution.”

Were the 14th not my first day back from the Gun Blogger Renezvous, I’d try to go.

ETA: Martin is no where near where I thought it was.

There could not have been a shooting at a Memphis park since they opted out of letting people carry there.

The Commercial Squeal:

Revellers continue to show up for a good time on Beale Street with handguns on their hips or in their purses — only to be turned back.

And:

The task of keeping guns off Beale falls to PSI Security officers, who use wands to detect weapons at various checkpoints on the edges of Beale each weekend.

“We are still stopping a lot with weapons,” said Leonard Porter, owner of PSI. Guards ask patrons to return their guns to their homes or to their cars before coming onto Beale.

“We don’t confiscate them. We ask them to put them back in their cars,” Porter said.

“A lot of them are from out of state. Some are off-duty police officers,” he said.

The article notes most folks are carrying illegally. I wonder if they call the police on those who are not?

The Rep:

Today, September 3 at 5:00 p.m., the Knoxville City Council will consider an ordinance that, if passed would remove a long-time ban on the possession of firearms within city parks.

The meeting will be held at the City County Building located at 400 Main St. in Knoxville. You can also contact your city leaders Mayor Bill Haslam at (865) 215-2040 and the City Council Members at (865) 215-2075 and voice your thoughts of this resolution and effort to allow you your right to self-defense in local parks.

As of yesterday, you can carry in state parks in Tennessee. Some cities have opted out, some have not, and some have opted out only some times. This is a patchwork of laws so complex, it would be nearly impossible to keep up. Sounds to me like a good case for preemption, like the state does with all other gun laws. But Rep. Campfield says that’s probably a no go for now:

The original bill passed by strong numbers because their was an opt out provision. Some legislators from liberal districts knew their area would just opt out so they voted to allow others to do as they please knowing the law would not effect them.

Don’t steal things that come equipped with a GPS.

It occurs to me that the guns in restaurants bill in Tennessee has created a marketing issue for local restaurateurs. On one hand, they can ostracize gun owners and cater to folks who, for some reason, fear inanimate objects. Cater to us gun nuts. Or remain silent, a de facto cater to gun nuts. There is another option. They could put up a sign (that doesn’t comply with the law) that says something to the effect of No Illegal Guns or No Unlawful Carrying of Firearms or some such. Then, the folks who wet themselves at the thought of guns will probably feel at ease. And those of us with handgun carry permits will be like I see what you did there.

Jack Lail notes Tennessee legislators filed three times as many exemptions to open meeting/record laws this session.

And the Democrat party wouldn’t let a reporter join in any reindeer games.

Literally.

The KNS reports that 70 cities in Tennessee have ‘opted out’ of park carry. I’m guessing that in the coming year the opt out provision will be opted out.

From Tennessee’s Constitution:

That the citizens of this state have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.

A look at Regulating the wearing of arms in Tennessee, part 1.

Prince Mongo, a mayoral candidate in Memphis, proposes giving citizens Uzis and machine guns to fight crime. Ok, then.

To be lawful in Tennessee.

So long as the little guy has deep pockets.

Ben has the details.

The county I live in says that there’s no need to ban guns in parks because it’s already prohibited. Another case for preemption. Park carry in Tennessee is becoming a complex patchwork that no law-abiding citizen can possibly keep up with. The state should extend Tennessee’s preemption with respect to parks.

And Adam Dread lies:

Tennessee is now the only state to allow guns in bars.

That fib has been refuted here, here, and here. Here’s the data that lie is based on.

Turk: Tennessee Carry-Permit Law 99.9994% Effective!

Who can pack heat in Tennessee? The PSH from the press says thugs can. They seem shocked that someone not prohibited from getting a permit got one.

Also, the hand-wringing is strong when it turns out that there maybe issues with 14 people out of over 339,000 issued. Seems the courts aren’t doing their jobs notifying the state.

And, of course, complying with the law is a “loophole“.

Michael is making a list in checking it twice.

Restaurateurs banned guns on Beale Street. The enacted security measures in response to the law-abiding being able to carry there. Not before, when the non-law-abiding were the ones carrying there. Anyway, this made me laugh:

There’s a lot less traffic on Beale Street … which made it a lot more enjoyable

Obviously, searching your patrons is good for business.

People say to me Hey, Uncle, I am a law-abiding handgun carry permit holder. Can I carry in a park in the great state of Tennessee? And I say:

That depends.

First, is it a national park? If so, no you cannot. At least now. In February, you will be able to carry in a national park.

Is it a state park? If so, then you can carry your handgun there.

Is it a county/city/other municipality park? Well, then it depends on your location and what day it is. You cannot carry there until September 1. And on September 1, you may or may not be able to carry there depending on if said county/city/other municipality banned the law-abiding carrying of weapons. I’m not sure how you’d know this other than by perusing your local ordinances. Municipalities are supposed to post signs but, frankly, parks tend to have lots of entrances so I’m not sure that you can be certain that the absence of a sign where you happened to enter indicates it’s OK to carry there.

Then the people say to me Man, that’s a lot to keep up with. Sounds like it’s easy to accidentally break the law. I mean, if I’m walking through downtown lawfully carrying and take a step through the World’s Fair Park because it’s quicker, I’m a criminal.

And I say Yup. Local politicos have created a patchwork of inconsistent laws that you can’t possibly keep up with, making it very easy for handgun carry permit holders to break the law unintentionally. So, you should contact your state representative and senators and tell them to start working on the preemption bill.

TN is 7th Freest State, #8 Economic, #18 personal

TN Gubernatorial Candidate Zach Wamp on the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act:

The 14-year congressman declared that a recent assertion by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act had no force of law was “overreach.” The Firearms Freedom Act stated that federal laws do not apply to firearms, accessories or ammunition that is manufactured in Tennessee and that do not pass its borders.

Wamp said that the ATF’s decision was another reason to “meet them at the state line” and assert state sovereignty. Gov. Perry in Texas and Gov. Wamp in Tennessee are going to stand and say ‘the hell you say,’” Wamp said.

The act has, simply, no chance of standing up to a court challenge. There are better second amendment policies to challenge.

Phil Valentine notes that, like every other state, an odd thing happened when Tennessee passed laws allowing carry in restaurants: nothing. Even though some tried really hard to say there was an incident.

Tomorrow, gubernatorial candidate Zach Wamp will be having a meet and greet over at Gunny’s range and gun shop.

A new strip club is going to open up in Nashville. The twist is that it’s going to be dudes juggling their naughty bits for women. And, I guess, maybe gay guys. Apparently, this bugs a councilman to the point where he is ill. Says the councilman:

It’s different for a man to show himself than a woman. It’s another step in the wrong direction.

And why is that? Naked women are OK and naked men aren’t? In terms of what I want to see, I do agree, which is why I won’t go to that strip club. But if some one wants to go check it out, I don’t see why it’s OK for one and not the other.

Campfield is running for state senate. The lefty blogs will be fun to watch this year.

Unsurprisingly, Nashville bans guns in parks for the law-abiding.

A website to see if restaurants posted no carry signs.

Bernie Ellis had the TBI investigate him a bit back because our secretary of state, Tre Hargett, accused him of being a terrorist threat. TBI said there was nothing to it. Mr. Ellis recently headed to the legislative plaza for a meeting where he was detained. For being a terrorist. Odd how people who choose to voice opinion contrary are often branded as terrorists, kooks, and nuts. Just like Jeff Woods does.

Tennessee had an illegal drug tax. And it kept getting struck down. Now, there is a class action lawsuit to recover payment of the illegal drug tax.

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

A.C. Kleinheider: State Senate could get extreme

Article at The Tennessean:

“People have asked me what we’d do if President Barack Obama issued an executive order to take firearms away from the people,” said Wamp. “I’ll tell you what we’d do. We will meet him at the state line!”

While I admire the sentiment, I really don’t think any sort of order is forthcoming.

In Google reader, I was met with this combination for this post from ACK:

From Political

For those not local, the post is about a girl who ended a local politicos career by blackmailing him about their sex life.