Political Reality
Legislators are often scorned for being afraid of the National Rifle Association and passing gun bills, quaking in fear of the special interest group. Most Tennessee legislators are not afraid of the NRA, they are the NRA.
And hippies cry. He also notes how last year being the supposed Year of the Gun has lead to press sensationalizing the business of the legislature. For years, former house speaker Jimmy Naifeh kept these gun bills that were supported by most in the legislature from ever coming to a vote. He used parliamentary tricks to kill all pro-gun bills. He even cheated when he had to.
Via Bitter, who notes:
There is no excuse for poor work on the matter, especially when the coverage of gun-related bills is often terrible to begin with.
January 14th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
And The Tennessean has already started it’s assault on restaurant carry for this session
http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2010/01/just_trust_us.html
January 14th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
I’m not from Tenn., so I don’t know the players – but when he writes about how the legislators don’t have to be afraid of the NRA because they are in the NRA, is he saying it’s a bad thing, a good thing, or just a thing?
January 14th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Mike,
On this issue, most legislators support Article I,Section 26 of the Tennessee Constitution’s Declaration of Rights which protects our right to carry arms for self-defense. That is their duty to always vote in accordance with their oath of office and especially when it pertains to the rights of the people….even though a right may be exercised by a minority of the citizens.