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I understand and realize the best course of action would have been to mind my own business but....I'm done with minding my own business.  If you're acting a fool and being stupid and it is affecting me, I'm going to call you out on it.   I firmly believe that stupidity and foolishness is becoming so common place in society because society stands by idly and watches from the side lines.  Is it my place to do so, probably not.  I believe it's all of our place to do so.   Think of this.  You're at he the hockey game.  Fellow spectator is yelling and screaming profanities at every play and person he sees.  You can tell everyone is annoyed to no end.  Security isn't doing anything about it.  So one guy in the crowd stands up and tells this guy to tone it down and keep it civil.  Everyone cheers this guy for doing so because he just did what everyone else was wanting to do but didn't have the guts to do.     If no one stands up to idiots when they are doing something that is detrimental to others around them, then who will?  The cops?  No offense but how reliable are they and where are they when you truly need one.  Society needs to police its own when it's something that can be handled without police intervention.  So many people rely on the cops to save them when all they need to do is start standing up for what they know is right.     Idiots prevail because good men no longer call them stupid.

Ok, here's the story.   Friday night high school football game, son is in the band.  The family comes to watch him perform.   The wife, daughter (<2 years old) and me arrive late because of work schedule.  The parking lot is packed and we park, gather our things and proceed through the parking lot to the stadium.  Obviously, I have secured my usual choice of defense and went with the trusty fists and flashlight.     While walking through the dimly lit parking lot a car approaches us at an alarmingly high rate of speed (easily close to if not more than 30 mph) for a congested area.  The wife grabs the daughter, I'm trying to get my flashlight out of my pocket to let said car know we are there but my hands are full of cameras and diaper bags.  As she passes us, I loudly state "slow down" as I notice her window was down.  She yells at me to "watch my mouth!" (??)  So I reply much more loudly and much more sternly "SLOW DOWN!!"  She continues to speed off and yell something back I can't understand.  Three other people witness this all and comment on her being an idiot for going that fast in a school parking lot.   The family and I arrive at the gate and pay to go inside and as soon as I turn away from the table with the tickets, there is a slightly taller and much more bulkier kid (?) standing almost on top of me.  I stop and look at him as he asks in a slow, menacing tone "did you just yell at someone in the parking lot?".  Immediately I go into condition red and size this fellow up.  I assumed battle stance and cleared my right arm and reply "yes".  He asks "did you call her a bit*h?".  By now I'm ready to throat punch this cat and drop him as hard and fast as I can because he had a friend behind him and my family was behind me.  I reply to him and say "no, I told her to slow down, she was going way to fast around all these people through the parking lot".  He says "you didn't call her a bit*h?"  I said "no, I told her to slow down".  I'm thinking at this point that this is going to go hands on and I'm ready to ruin this kids voice and he starts to walk away and says "better not have".     So, situation diverted.  Question number one.  If he was going to go to the next, obvious step and I read his cues and used force first, fast and thoroughly, would I be in trouble?  I decided long ago that if ever faced with a problem such as this, I was going all in, all at once and not going to wait for someone else to wound me or use violence on me first specially when he has back up.  I was fearing for myself and my family at that very second and as long as I am breathing I was not going to allow anyone to get near them.   Who ever was in that car must have called this kid (?) and he was waiting for me, which would mean premeditated action to confront me on his part.  I was also wearing a pretty loud shirt that was easily recognizable.  So I was easy to find.   Also, being school grounds I was rosco-less but I might have or might not have had access to an alternative means of protection.  Would I also be in trouble if this went down and he and his friend bested me first and I was to deploy said means, if I had or had not had access to?   Sorry for writing a book, but this really got me thinking.  I spend so much time learning, training and researching situations involving firearms, that I was not prepared for a hands on situation in the ONLY possible place and time I would be without my firearm, a school.   The only thing I was mentally prepared to do was be the first to lay hands and not stop until he was out of commission.  I'm not sure that would have been enough, or if that would have been a good thing at all.    

If I remember right, disparity in numbers is good to go for use of lethal force.  Specially once they show intent to do harm.  Sheer numbers are a weapon in itself.    1-1 is no good. 1-2 or more is good to go on use of lethal force especially when size and age is a factor.

  It's not, nor is it ever, the item or act that is being banned.  It is the pure fact and principle that another human is trying to control the behavior of another human.   Somethings are warranted, I understand that.  We are a society of laws.  Break the "common sense" laws and face the consequence.  Common sense such as: don't murder, steal, rape, etc.  I'm not talking about all the nonsense laws we have now.  Murder is still plain murder regardless of the means used to in act such murder.  Banning an item to control ones behavior to stop murders is ludicrous.    Your opinion that removing an item from society is going to keep you safer is nothing but feel good fallacy.    From the beginning of time, humans have tried to control others behavior and it DOES NOT WORK.  A person is either going to be a good person or a bad person.  The objects in their life are irrelevant.   A drunk will find a drink, a thief will find his loot and a killer will find his prey no matter what "law" or "ban" is in place.

  My goodness, this sounds like a talking point straight out of the lefties handbook.   Bloomberg couldn't have said it better.   God knows that if we ban it, a magical force field will prevent a criminal from being able to even hold a "banned" item, right?  Just like the felons that are banned....yet they still manage to get banned items, or the druggies and their drugs, or the restraining order that stops the pissed off boyfriend.   Why don't we just say what is implied but never spoken.  Un-invent whatever it is that people don't like so the "bad guys" can't have it.  Bad guys as in us, the citizen that desires to be a free man.  They don't truly care about the criminal element, because they can already control the criminals.   You can't control someone who is free.

Great stuff.  I've put 3k plus some through the my AR.  Have tons of PPU 9, .40, and .45.  Never had any issues.   Whenever possible I'll buy PPU before anything else.

If asked, I'm going to respond with a question of my own.   "Do you or anyone in your household own sex toys?"  Just asking to make sure that you're as uncomfortable as I am being asked a question that is none of my business.  Now we are both on the same playing field.

They are no different than any other business.   They need to post like everyone else.

Ok, I was thinking.  Colorado passed a law at the state level that gives its residents the ability to purchase, use and possess weed, right?  The feds said....."mmmmm we will not mess with you guys on this" (basically).   Here's my thought.  Why can't TN pass a similar law just like that but instead replace weed with full auto machine gun?  As long as we buy it here and it's made here and stays here, the feds can't do anything about it.   I'm asking for too much aren't I?

Ummmm......how is this remotely legal if they are claiming a drivers license safety checkpoint?  Pretty sure they can't stop us JUST to verify a license without being able to articulate reasonable suspension for the initial stop!!   If they are claiming DUI checkpoint that is a whole different game to argue, but a "drivers license safety stop"?  What the hell is that?

None of your business Subject #1562321, now move along and pick up that can.

A coworker of mine.  His sister is a magistrate and she claims the local JBT's are claiming this.   I figured it was junk.

I have over heard someone state that the entire vehicle carry law was going to be repealed next year.  Has anyone else heard of this rumor?  I searched the TFA site and found no mention of it.   Some crap claim about a worry of drive by increase.  I'm sure it's nothing but a rumor but have to ask.

They are turning everything into a felony in some capacity. Back door gun control. Make all crimes felonious and no one can own a gun. Brilliant!

I moved five miles up the road seven years ago.  Was SO excited there was a gun store and range to boot this close to the house.   Went in there two times.  They were rude and the prices were just about 100 dollars more than guns and leather.  The range was horrible also.  Second time I told them I won't be back.   They put themselves out of business. 

For years the gun community has screamed and cried "Don't do that, don't do this!".  With good reason and intent.  To be safe.  Things are changing though.  We need to continue to be safe but train for a different era.    How can you react to a shooter or any threat if he's standing near anyone?  How about his bad guy friends that are behind you?  Are you not going to engage them because they are "behind the 180"?  It has been proven time and time and time again that you will fight how you have been training.   Police have changed their disarming training because to many cops were disarming a bad guy and giving him his weapon right back to him.  They had trained over and over with a partner handing the weapon back and forth that it becomes instinct.   When you're stressed you will default to the training that you have mastered.  If you have mastered being a safety nazi, then you will fight like a safety nazi.   Think about your day.  How many times have you done something that was "unsafe"?  Why are so many people so willing to go through the day and be unsafe in their job or their driving and then freak out when a gun is involved?  OMG!  someone is 10 feet away from my target, close the whole thing done!!  I think a lot of it might be the lack of confidence in their own ability to not control their weapon and where they are shooting.  You don't stop your car in the middle of the road because there is a kid on a bike in front of you do you?  No, you give him a 10 foot berth and keep your car under control and stay focused on the road ahead.  Shooting with someone down range is the same thing.

I'm going to play devils advocate here.   All this talk about safety and breaking 180 blah blah...is all very sensible.   But,   There's a good chance that the same folks saying how stupid and unsafe this might be, are the same people who walk out in front of a moving car in the Walmart parking lot fully expecting (trusting) a complete stranger to stop his moving 3600 lbs. bullet.     Or they will Jay walk when the hand is red trusting that a complete stranger will be paying attention enough to slow down or stop and give them the right away and not get killed!?   I understand the need for being safe.  But why do people not trust other people with a gun in their hand but will trust the exact same person to be a fully competent driver operating a much larger and more deadly machine than a gun?    

Beyond contrary belief, most postal employees are gun loving.     I would not want to test the water but chances are they would just ask you to not bring that in again.  Metro probably wouldn't do much either, not their jurisdiction.  The postal inspectors would have a field day with you though.  They get REALLY bored and any chance to throw cuffs they will.   My shop in Nashville has 26 employees.  13 of us are veterans.  17 of us have carry permits.   A local contractor open carried in our shop while doing business with us and we simply told him to leave his .45 in the truck next time (not by our choice).  Hell, up until about seven years ago the truck drivers that had the Federal Reserve building runs (money) were issued a sidearm.  Once they left the building loaded with cash they were on their own.  

  I do understand we are arm chairing.  Let's break it down.   Two of officers have one man restrained in handcuffs. Victim does not appear to be resisting physically in any manner. Third officer approaches from the rear, clearly not in any danger from the already restrained and under control victim. Third officer begins to choke restrained and physically passive victim to point of becoming unconscious.   I am missing the "grey" area that needs to know the whole story leading up to the choking.  The victim was already under control and cooperating therefore the use of force continuum is done.  Even if the victim was verbally running his mouth and being a douche, where in any department in the Country is it OK to choke someone for being a pain in the ass?  Especially after he is already under control?   What could we possibly be missing that would make the choking acceptable?  I can't think of any circumstance that would justify choking a restrained person who is not out of control!?

  It's good to know that when you have a badge, choking someone isn't aggravated assault or simple assault at the least (which i believe both are criminal acts) in your book.   It's funny how two people can see the same thing and think two different things.  I see a human assaulting and commiting a crime under the color of authority.   You see......well...something that's not a crime.  

Pretty sure that officer is going to be in some hot water.   Your friend should have asked for a supervisor on the spot instead of handing over his weapon.  Specially having known the reciprocity law himself.   I would call the station and ask for the officer in charge and explain what happened.  If that doesn't help I would call the state police and explain to them what happened and ask to file a report of theft by the local yocal.   TN has a preemptive law.  Local governments aren't allowed to override state gun laws.

Love the commenter that said "check your excuses".    Article hits it on the head.

  Here is the problem with that.     Concealed carry with a permit will result in cops having complete discretion on the actual manner of concealed.  I lived in PA for a bit and they have OC no permit unless concealed.  The favorite trick of cops is to say "hey there, 1/2 inch of your shirt just slipped over the very edge of your guns grip, that makes it a concealed weapon now.". Now you're getting a fine or arrested for no permit.  They have used that trick for years and years up there and that is what I'm afraid of here.

I know this might be a far stretch, but bear with me. I can remember when I was growing up that being a homosexual was almost an arrestable offense. There was none of this in your face gayness that we deal with now on a daily basis. No one seems to care anymore. Now, just think if gun owners displayed their passion, openly, for gun ownership in public more often instead of "hiding in the closet" so to speak. Maybe over time the general public would accept open carry and gun onwership more willingly than they seem to now. It seems sometimes that those of us that open carry are treated like outcasts by our own side. Just a thought.

I believe that to the best of our knowledge, no one in TN has been charged with carrying in a posted zone unless its a school or they are already committing another type if crime. I'm not saying not to follow the law, but even if you happen to be somewhere posted (unknowingly, presumably) and have to use your weapon in self defense you are exempt from prosecution for being in a restricted area anyways. Just saying.