Gun Confiscations in Tennessee
It appears that Phil Bredesen has a a beef with Senate Bill 1597 which 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. The Governor currently has this authority.
Republican Leader Mark Norris is receipt of a letter from Mary Freeman, the Governor’s Director of Legislation, requesting he “consider halting further action” on Senate Bill 1597. The missive states that the administration “disagrees with the intent of this legislation and therefore cannot support it.”
That, my friends, is infinitely disturbing. Why do you think we have the right to bear arms? For times of peace and tranquility?
It is disturbing. I find it pretty deplorable that the administration would entertain the notion of confiscating arms or restricting their sale during a time when said arms are most likely to be needed. I also find it quite odd as Bredesen has been pro-gun and even signed into law SB1658 which states:
The sheriff or chief of police of the city of residence of a person purchasing any firearm, defined by the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. 5845 et seq., shall execute within fifteen (15) business days of any request all documents required to be submitted by the purchaser if the purchaser is not prohibited from possessing firearms pursuant to § 39-17-1316.
The bill in question is here.
The governor can be reached at:
Governor’s Office
Tennessee State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243-0001
Phone: 615.741.2001
Fax: 615.532.9711
Email: phil.bredesen@state.tn.us
March 15th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Guess he must hang around Bill Haslam. So if a major event occurs we get the NOLA treatment? What in the hell has happened to this state?
Wonder how they will try to spin this?
March 15th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Any public official who wants the unconstitutional power to confiscate weapons form otherwise law-abiding people, especially JUST WHEN THEY NEED THEM MOST, is definitely on the side of tyranny.
March 15th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
But why would the governor even have this power?? This is a flagrant violation of Article 26 of the Declarations of Rights in the Tennessee Constitution!! The people of this State have the RIGHT to keep and carry arms for self-defense, therefore the govenor as well as the legislature and judiciary are all restricted from having the POWER to deny a RIGHT. THAT’S WHY WE HAVE A CONSTITUTION AND A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS!! Otherwise we are under arbitrary rule and tyranny soley at the discretion of a public official declaring an emergency!!
March 15th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Georgia is in the same position right now. The Governor is stopping the progress of a bill that removes his emergency power.
March 15th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
This certainly says a lot more about Bredesen’s 2A position than his ability to shoot a 25 at skeet.
Glad I didn’t vote for him, although I generally respect him.
March 15th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
“This certainly says a lot more about Bredesen’s 2A position than his ability to shoot a 25 at skeet.”
Exactly. I was also under the impression that Bredesen was pro-gun. Oh well…
Tennessee still needs to pass the no-confiscation law, though we aren’t as likely to have a disaster as NOLA.
There might be tornadoes in middle and west TN, and local flooding in some areas, but overall, it’s unlikely that there will be a statewide disaster.
(I guess that Oak Ridge might go sky high, but I kind of doubt it.)
Nevertheless, no official needs the power to disarm peaceful citizens.
March 16th, 2007 at 9:36 am
These kinds of folks do NOT think that the Bill of Rights, or any state constititution LISTS human rights preceeding the establishment of government. They think the Bill of Rights GRANTS those human rights.
I suggest these kinds of folks need to be kept far away from public service.
Poor reading and comprehension skills. They think they are Hitler.
March 27th, 2007 at 10:32 am
[…] recall that TN Governor Phil Bredesen wanted to retain the power of restricting the ability to purchase guns and ammunition during times of natural disaster or declared…. He has since had a change of heart, reports Bob Krumm: Gov. Phil Bredesen, who was at one time […]