Haslam and Guns
Caught wind of this yesterday. At the TFA meeting, Haslam was asked about the requirement of getting a permit in Tennessee to carry a handgun. He answered:
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam told a Nashville meeting of the Tennessee Firearms Association that if lawmakers abolished the handgun-carry permit system and allowed people to go armed without permits, he would sign it into law.
The TFA’s executive director, Nashville lawyer John Harris, confirmed Tuesday night that an audio clip of Haslam’s exchange with TFA members on the issue at a forum Monday night was accurate and that his organization will likely push for repealing the carry-permit soon.
And to think, just a few years ago, he was a member of the most powerful anti-gun lobby in the country. They grow up so fast.
October 20th, 2010 at 8:59 am
That or they have figured out an end run we don’t see yet.
We here in Iowa are removing the concealed carry requirement, even though it is still being recommended so that we don’t scare the proles.
It could be they are hoping the proles will yell loudly that some sort of regulation is then required.
We also have that pesky UN thing floating about.
And they can still hit us on the ammo front.
It is not over yet.
October 20th, 2010 at 11:26 am
That’s a huge step in the right direction for
Bob CorkerHaslam.October 20th, 2010 at 11:57 am
Fifteen years ago, I was unaware of the Second Amendment.
This is ironic, because I took Constitutional law in law school (a hundred or so years ago). To say the least, I suspect that we glossed right over the Second Amendment like it didn’t exist. Also ironic is the fact that we spent so much time in Constitutional law on the interstate commerce clause, which Congress treats as completely non-existent.
Although I owned a couple of guns, they were not really a part of my world and certainly not a part of my daily life.
But, eleven years ago someone stood in the road until I stopped and then tried to open my passenger door.
I felt very stupid for not being able to protect myself, so I got a HCL, learned about Second Amendment law and ultimately became a firearms and Second Amendment enthusiat, to put it mildly.
I tell my friends who aren’t part of the gun culture that they will likely get a gun and a HCL after the first time they need a gun, but don’t have one.
My point is that I, too, was a slow learner on Second Amendment matters, so I will not cast aspersions at someone else whose life didn’t include guns until later in life.
It took me a while to get to the party, but I am certainly here now.
If we are going to play the game of who is the most 2A and who has been 2A the longest, you can leave me out.
October 20th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
“They grow up so fast.”
Until *after* the election, sure.
I think that he was in MAIG until he decided to run for Governor tells you all you need know about his honesty there…. (And as I recall, wasn’t there a lot of coverup/wiki-editing and denials by his staff about the MAIG membership and etc?)
October 20th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
One of the guys running for Goobener here (Scott) has pledged he’d sign Constitutional Carry into law in Florida.
He get’s a check mark in November.
October 20th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
1. Haslam is an ass who should never be trusted.
2. The only downside is that, should TN get out of the business of issuing CCWs, it may make it difficult for those of us who live in TN, but travel extensively in other states to go armed in a legal manner.
Florida still issues permits to non-residents, correct?
October 20th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
ThomasD: Tennessee would still have permits specifically for this reason.
October 20th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Florida does still issue CCW permits to non-residents, but what would probably happen in TN (as it did in AK) is that the state would continue to issue CCW permits specifically for the purpose of reciprocity agreements. That seems like the most sensible thing to do, anyway.
October 20th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Chris, I suspect that a major reason you glossed over the Second Amendment in school was because, for a lawyer, there’s not much there. Very little room for “interpretation” and “context.” It’s so short and to the point that hoplophobes have been reduced to arguing that the words used don’t mean what they mean (i.e., “the people” actually refers to the state governments), or rearranging their order (moving the word “militia” so that it follows “the right of the…”).
October 20th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
For an out-of-state permit, check out Utah. There is a training requirement, which can be fulfilled without ever setting foot in Utah, and the whole thing is done by mail. I have a Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act license (it covers more than just concealment), AND a Utah concealed carry permit, which is good in a lot more places than the Pennsylvania license.
October 20th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
What penalty accrues if he repudiates this promise when the bill arrives on his desk? Angry letters, lost votes in his next election, lost campaign funding, and maybe somebody yells at him in public a time or two. I think he could live with that.
What penalty accrued to him for MAIG membership? Pretty much the same as the above.
What penalty accrues if he signs the bill, as promised? A lower level of the letters, lost votes, lost funding, and public opprobrium than if he does not sign it.
All in all, I think he is an honest politician, one who stays bought, or at least one who knows who can hurt him the most.
October 20th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Good point, Steve.
October 20th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Its my understanding that both VT and AK allow for concealed carry without any gov’t sanction or permit.
So what’s the big deal? An armed society is a polite society.
(Support the candidates that support the FairTax!)
October 20th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
The Natural (not government granted) right to defend ourselves and bear arms is affirmed by both the US Constitution and the Tennessee constitution. All states should pass constitutional carry laws to affirm this right. Unfortunately, most states will not do so, as they are not aware and caring of the condition of their freedoms. The reciprocity between states can be easily remedied by an optional permit system , as in Arizona. You carry freely in your state, and apply for an optional permit if you want to carry elsewhere.
October 20th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
In TEXAS with a CHL you walk in buy put your CHL and DL down.Sign the gummints yellar form pay you bill and walk out. With a valid CHL?DL you are APPROVED.Tenn is a hassle $10.00 every time. Tennessee needs to go to A CHL holder ought to be considered pre approved and not a cash cow.
Pass this on a a favor to your reps and maybe new Gov.
October 20th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Considering how Haslam handled lawful carry in Knoxville parks when he was mayor, this completely falls under the “believe it when I see it” heading.
October 21st, 2010 at 9:01 am
He doesn’t seem very strong on gun rights, but I think he’ll as he says. We’ve got a republican majority in the house and senate, The Lt. Gov Ron Ramsey, and probably more republicans being elected in the legislature in Nov. If people want “constitutional carry” this is the time to get it done. The stars have aligned. Legislation can be drafted and ready for introduction in January. Call your legislators, write letters, or meet them in person.
October 21st, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Got out of law school in 1982. Did a good bit of hunting prior to that so I was mindful of the Second Amendment. When I took my Con Law course, I thought that we would get to cover the Second. Not a chance. Commerce clause, parade permits, Bakke and Ollie McClung’s BBQ were the cases of the day. On those many days I was bored out of my mind, I would scour the case and hornbook for Second Amendment references. Not a mention. It was as if the Second did not exist. From that perspective, it is easy to see how one might have a void in their Second Amendment understanding. However, thanks to the scholarship of Alan Gura and others, ignorance is now no excuse.