TN Governor Against RKBA During Declared Emergencies

[Golden Saber]

All:

This email is going to the NRA Frontlines volunteers in the 7th Congressional District.

Majority Leader Mark Norris was on NRANews last night stating what appears in this press release on his site today.

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Norris Faces Off with Governor on Self Defense Bill

Bredesen Expresses Opposition on Right to Bear Arms during Declared Emergencies

March 15, 2007

NASHVILLE --- The Bredesen Administration has expressed opposition to Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris’ legislation limiting the Governor’s power to confiscate firearms and restrict the sale of ammunition during declared emergencies.

Senate Bill 1597 would prohibit the Governor from confiscating weapons from law-abiding citizens or restricting the ability to purchase guns and ammunition during times of natural disaster or declared emergency. Most of the public is unaware that the Governor currently holds this statutory seizure authority.

Norris said he received a letter from Mary Freeman, the Governor’s Director of Legislation, requesting he “consider halting further action” on Senate Bill 1597. The letter states they “disagree with the intent of this legislation and therefore cannot support it.”

"There is a feeling of déjà vu here,” Norris said. “I expect passage of the measure again in the Senate, but I remain confused as to why the Administration feels threatened. The letter’s tone infers it again faces an uphill battle in the House.”

The measure passed the Senate last year but failed in the House.

Norris said he simply wants to protect Tennesseans’ basic constitutional rights.

“The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is never more precious than during natural disasters or declared emergencies when self defense can be the key to survival,” Norris said. “The Hurricane Katrina disaster was a wake-up call that this could happen.”

In New Orleans, governmental confiscation of citizens’ arms sparked outrage in the aftermath of Katrina. A federal judge later enjoined the City of New Orleans from violating Second Amendment rights after the National Rifle Association (NRA) filed suit.

“New Orleans citizens in lawful possession of weapons to protect their homes and families were forced to surrender those arms,” Norris said. “We do not want a repeat of that scenario in Tennessee. The ability to defend one’s home place and family in the absence of adequate law enforcement is essential.”

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If you've never seen the NRA footage of the New Orleans gun confiscations, please spend 8 minutes of your time to take a look.

Now, let Governor Bredesen know how unhappy you are with his position. His contact information is (615) 741-2001 or [email protected]. Let him know that you are appalled that he reserves the right to disarm all of us during the ripping of the social fabric after a disaster. Imagine the chaos of the aftermath of an earthquake along the New Madrid fault, for example.

The time for your effort is now.

David Waldrip
NRA Institute for Legislative Action
Election Volunteer Coordinator
TN 7th Congressional District

 

[Kaylee]

Ooh - awesome!

And yeah, Bredeson is... bleck. Right now he's the the midst of trying to buy himself a legacy as "the education governor." Seems he wants to add another year at each end of gov't education "for the children" ... because the gov't schools are doing such a fantastic job with the thirteen years they have already, of course.

But he's worth calling I imagine.

-K

 

[taliv]

email sent, and i'll call in the morning

 

[waynesan]

E-mail sent. Call tomorrow.

 

[SomeKid]

He is from New York. Does this actually surprise anyone?

It amazes me that about 80% of the people voted for a New York Democrat. What really ticks me off, is I know a lot of very conservative people who voted for the carpet bagger.

Kaylee pretty much nailed it on the education. He wants to start the indoctrination a year earlier, and is trying to raise taxes to do it. I wonder how long before he calls for an expansion of our state income tax.

 

[45/70]

Anyone who does a basic historical search on the concepts behind the Second Amendment will find that the INTENTION is to provide "the people" with the means to defend their "life, liberty, and property."

Defense of life, liberty, and propety applies in times of national emergency perhaps more than any other time.

 

[AlaskaErik]

Let me guess...he's a Democrat.

 

[Robert Hairless]

If the events in New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina offer any lesson, it's extremely important for public safety to disarm the police.

 

[GregZ]

I got this same email from TEAMGOP last night and I was furious. I have sent Mr Bredeson and email telling him how disgusted I am. Not that it will do any good. All I have to say is just try and take them from me. They will have to pry them from my cold dead fingers.

 

[Kaylee]

walp.. just called.

It's gotten a fair amount of play on local radio as well. I'm sure Bredesen and his buddies hate the idea, but his opposition is not playing well in East Tennessee.

Dad gum hillbillies.


-K

PS - AlaskaErik.. you had to ask? Of course.

PPS - GregZ .. yup, that's pretty much the attitude of most everyone between Knoxville and North Carolina, I bet. Molon Labe.

PPPS - SomeKid - it's not just pre-K. He's also toying with the idea of adding an extra year post-high school. Supposedly for what looks like an amped-up version of "AP" classes.
http://www.wreg.com/global/story.asp?s=5900781

 

[GregZ]

It just infuriates me to hear of these politians trying to take our rights away for some sort of personal advancement. The sad thing is my wife is a cop. If she were ever ordered to disarm me I am not sure what either of us would do. She would have to wait till I went to sleep I guess. LOL

 

[Kaylee]

Greg - provided this was the oath she took -

I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitutions of the United States and of the State of Tennessee, and the ordinances of the City of ____________________, and will well and faithfully perform the duties imposed upon me as a police officer of the City
of to the best of my ability; and that I will serve the United States, the State of Tennessee, and the City of ________________ honestly and faithfully, and will obey the orders of the officers and officials placed over me according to law.

And that aside from the 2A in the Fed constitution, we have this :

Section 26. 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.

I'd say her duties are pretty clear, provided you leave the piece at home.

 

[GregZ]

I would feel nekid if I had to leave it at home. Lets just hope for all our sakes it never has to come to that.
BTW this is great site. I have been lerking for a long time, and finally decided to sign up. There is so much info on THR that it makes my head spin.

 

[UKTN]

2 weeks ago I became an American citizen in Knoxville. So I sent an email asking how he could even think about taking away my 2nd amendment rights.

 

[hrgrisso]

WELCOME

UKTN - Welcome to America as a Citizen and brother!

Thank you for taking the time to do so legally (not to suggest that ANYONE would ever do it another way ) but it's always good to see the good stuff!

Have you exercised your 2nd Amendment rights and bought yourself something nice to celebrate?

 

[TnRebel]

welcome to the real Tn UKTN East Tn and the 'Hillbilly's Goooo Vols

 

[SomeKid]

Kaylee, The post HS stuff was news to me. Bredeson could have taken the extra state money, and done something good for us all. Lowered the sales tax. Abolished our partial income tax. Lowered business fees to lure more industry. But no, the Yankee Democrat spends the money on indoctrination centers.

I find myself wanting to march around Nashville with a sign saying 'Yankee go Home!'

I am glad to see that we in the Tennessee Firearms Association aren't fighting alone. Maybe the Republican majority in the Senate can force Tyrant Naifeh to not kill it in the House again. We shall see.

For those who are not involved yet, join and be active in the TFA!

 

[Standing Wolf]

2 weeks ago I became an American citizen in Knoxville.

One bit of good news in this thread, anyway.

Welcome, friend!

 

[Mousegun]

I am originally from the New York area and moved to Tennessee to try to get away from some of that trash. It somtimes seems that it followed me when I see crap like this.:banghead:

 

[Elza]

Greg:

She would have to wait till I went to sleep I guess.

Or use it as an excuse for a ".40 cal divorce"

JUST KIDDING!

 

[lacoochee]

Y'all voted in a New York Democrat for governor? I was thinking about moving to Tennessee, re-evaluating now.

 

[SomeKid]

lac,

We not only voted a New York Democrat in once, but re-elected him with 80% of the vote in 06.

I admit, it ticks me off to.

 

[longeyes]

I'm waiting to hear how it's all the fault of carpetbaggers from NY and CA. I'm sure some of it is, but Americans need to face the problem that they themselves have become the enemy. America isn't just happening by itself without the complicity of most Americans. Time for that fabled "fearless inventory," my fellow citizens.

 

[Golden Saber]

Round Two

Round Two starts with more information from Saturday's Knoxville News Sentinel.

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Despite opposition from Gov. Phil Bredesen's administration, a Senate floor vote is scheduled Monday night on legislation that would prohibit a governor from ordering seizure of firearms and ammunition during a declared "state of emergency."

Such seizures are permitted under current law, according to Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris, sponsor of SB1597.

He said officials in Bredesen's administration have sent him a letter saying they "disagree with the intent" of the measure, which was inspired by confiscation of weapons in Louisiana during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A federal judge, ruling in a lawsuit brought by the National Rifle Association, subsequently blocked further use of the law.

"The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is never more precious than during natural disasters or declared emergencies when self-defense can be the key to survival," said Norris in a statement.

"New Orleans citizens in lawful possession of weapons to protect their homes and families were forced to surrender those arms. We do not want a repeat of that scenario in Tennessee," he said.

Asked for comment, Rachel Lassiter, Bredesen's deputy press secretary, sent a reporter the following e-mail:

"This is Washington style nonsense; and it's irresponsible. This bill has nothing to do with the Second Amendment or the governor's strong support of the Second Amendment.

"This administration opposes any effort that erodes the power of this or any future governor to appropriately respond to protect the safety and security of Tennesseans during a natural disaster, terrorist act or any other emergency."

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If you haven't yet contacted Gov. Bredesen's office, please do so via the contact information at the start of this thread. Let him know that you consider it "nonsense" and "irresponsible" that he and his advisors consider our safety would be protected by the act of disarming us during a disaster.

We have reports of a lot of calls being made on Friday, so keep up the pressure.

The time for your effort continues to be right now.

Thanks in advance.

David Waldrip
NRA Institute for Legislative Action
Election Volunteer Coordinator
TN 7th Congressional District

 

[Kaylee]

This bill has nothing to do with the Second Amendment or the governor's strong support of the Second Amendment.

I'm curious. Which Second Amendment is it that the Governor supports so strongly?

This administration opposes any effort that erodes the power of this or any future governor

that's more like it.