Tim Nunan

During the January Hamblen county Planning Commission meeting the County Attorney stated that in the A-1 zone (agriculture) that only the property owner and their immediate family could legally shoot there. In his opinion it would be illegal for property owner to invite friends (or apparently distant relatives) to shoot on their property. It was pointed out that such activity would not be a commercial event but merely a private gathering of friends. He reiterated that he believed it would be illegal. What say you?

The MHHS (Morristown-Hamblen Health System) hospital has signs at each entrance to its parking lots with a revolver in the red circle with slash and the words "No concealed weapons". No signs on any of its doors. LOL

http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/headline/3807 Barack Obama’s pick for “regulatory czar,†Harvard Law School Professor Cass Sunstein, may be the incoming president’s most popular appointment so far. Judging from his resume -- best-selling author, “pre-eminent legal scholar of our time,†and an endorsement from The Wall Street Journal -- we can almost understand why. Almost. Because as we’re telling the media today, there’s one troubling portion of the new Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) Administrator’s C.V. that has seems to have flown under everyone’s radar: Cass Sunstein is a radical animal rights activist. Don’t believe us? Sunstein has made no secret of his devotion to the cause of establishing legal “rights†for livestock, wildlife, and pets. “[T]here should be extensive regulation of the use of animals in entertainment, scientific experiments, and agriculture,†Sunstein wrote in a 2002 working paper while at the University of Chicago Law school. “Extensive regulation of the use of animals.†That's PETA-speak for using government to get everything PETA and the Humane Society of the United States can't get through gentle pressure or not-so-gentle coercion. Not exactly the kind of thing American ranchers, restaurateurs, hunters, and biomedical researchers (to say nothing of ordinary consumers) would like to hear from their next “regulatory czar.†A version of the same paper also appeared as the introduction to Animal Rights: Current Debates and New Directions, a 2004 book that Sunstein co-edited with then-girlfriend Martha Nussbaum. In that book, Sunstein set out an ambitious plan to give animals the legal “right†to file lawsuits. We're not joking: “[A]nimals should be permitted to bring suit, with human beings as their representatives, to prevent violations of current law … Any animals that are entitled to bring suit would be represented by (human) counsel, who would owe guardian like obligations and make decisions, subject to those obligations, on their clients’ behalf.†It doesn't end there. Sunstein delivered a keynote speech at Harvard University’s 2007 “Facing Animals†conference. (Click here to watch the video; his speech starts around 39:00.) Keep in mind that as OIRA Administrator, Sunstein will have the political authority to implement a massive federal government overhaul. Consider this tidbit: “We ought to ban hunting, I suggest, if there isn’t a purpose other than sport and fun. That should be against the law. It’s time now.†Sunstein also argued in favor of “eliminating current practices such as greyhound racing, cosmetic testing, and meat eating, most controversially.†He concluded his Harvard speech by expressing his “more ambitious animating concern†that the current treatment of livestock and other animals should be considered “a form of unconscionable barbarity not the same as, but in many ways morally akin to, slavery and mass extermination of human beings.†Sound familiar? As the individual about to assume “the most important position that Americans know nothing about,†Sunstein owes the public an honest appraisal of his animal rights goals before taking office. Will the next four years be a dream-come-true for anti-meat, anti-hunting, and anti-everything-else radicals? Time will tell. For now, meat lovers might want to stock their freezers.

I believe there is a "right of passage" law for surface travel between states. I'll have to check the NRA pamphlet. I'd think that it would apply to any public road; just have to be sure not to leave that road's right-of-way.

<!--StartFragment -->Heidi Keesling is the NRA lobbyist for Tennessee. I don't have an email for her now; will post one when I get it.

According to this article Representative John Litz states that he was one of many Democrats who were searching for an alternative to Mumpower for House speaker interviewed Williams in mid-December and asked him to divulge his positions on firing the state employees and committee chairmanships. http://www.citizentribune.com/news/view_sections.asp?idcategory=67&idarticle=11217 Rep. Litz discusses speaker surprise By Robert Moore, Tribune Staff WriterRep. John Litz, one of the Democrat House leaders who helped orchestrate the election of Kent Williams as speaker, said this morning that thwarting the election of Republican Jason Mumpower won?t prevent the GOP from accomplishing its landmark goals. Williams, an Elizabethton Republican was elected House speaker Monday by a 50-49 vote margin. The only Republican vote Williams received was his own. Litz says he feels certain that Comptroller John Morgan, Treasurer Dale Sims and Secretary of State Riley Darnell, all Democrats, would be replaced by Republicans today. Litz maintains it would be a "disaster" to replace the highly experienced trio and lose an invaluable part of state government?s finance-related institutional memory, especially at a time when it appears this year?s budget deficit could climb to $1.25 billion. The comptroller, treasurer and secretary of state are elected by both the House and Senate. Republicans enjoy a 69-63 overall majority. "Now, all of the sudden, they?re going to can those people, fire those people today, and bring people in here who don?t have an idea what?s going on," Litz said this morning. Williams, the new speaker, is beginning just his third year in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Another possible casualty, Litz says, is the state Department of Education?s pre-kindergarten program. "I don?t think pre-K will survive, anyway," Litz said. "Just because there?s a Republican speaker who?s not the one they wanted ? I think there?s absolutely a bull?s eye drawn on the pre-K plan." What Democrats did accomplish by throwing their support behind the renegade Republican is prevent the legal, clerical and sergeant at arms staff ? approximately 150 workers ? from being fired Monday. Litz alleges that Mumpower planned to replace the workers just because they were hired under a Democratic administration. Litz says that before Williams was elected, he indicated that he would split the 12 House committee chairmanships equally. Williams said he made no deals in exchange for Democrats? support. Litz agreed this morning that Williams made no deals. However, Litz says he and other Democrats who were searching for an alternative to Mumpower for House speaker interviewed Williams in mid-December and asked him to divulge his positions on firing the state employees and committee chairmanships. Williams, who was fired from the Tennessee Department of Transportation in the early 1970s for political reasons, held the same views as the Democrats, according to Litz. "There wasn?t anything required of him," Litz said. The Hamblen County Democrat says supporting Williams was a fall-back position. He says the initial goal was to find a tie-breaking vote Jimmy Naifeh, the former House speaker who served for 18 years. "We needed an alternative plan," Litz said. "The alternative plan was to see if there was another Republican interested in being the speaker ? another Republican besides Jason Mumpower ? that was going to be easier to work with and not make the drastic changes that we had heard were going to be made." Litz says that while the House was in recess, he contacted approximately 15 other Democrats and nobody voiced opposition to supporting Williams. Some of the remaining 34 Democrats didn?t learn of the behind-the-scenes plan until Monday morning, according to Litz. Litz says he was ashamed of some Republicans? reaction to Williams? election, but Mumpower wasn?t among them. "He?s been a class act," Litz said. "He deserves to be credited for that."

State Senator Mike Faulk has spoken to the Lakeway TFA chapter and was well received. All indications are that he will be a strong supporter of our gun rights.

Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. Legislative Action Committee Most of the 2nd Amendment legislation goes through the House and Senate Judiciary committees. I received this afternoon information that the Senate Judiciary has been appointed. Chair - Senator Mae Beavers ® 308 WMB 741-2421 sen.mae.beavers@capitol.tn.gov Vice Chair - Senator Doug Jackson (D) 10 LP 741-4499 sen.doug.jackson@capitol.tn.gov Secretary - Senator Doug Overby ® 320 WMB 741-0981 sen.doug.overbey@capitol.tn.gov Senator Diane Black ® 306 WMB 741-1999 sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov Senator Dewayne Bunch ® 312 WMB 741-3730 sen.dewayne.bunch@capitol.tn.gov Senator Mike Faulk ® 310 WMB 741-2061 sen.mike.faulk@capitol.tn.gov Senator Jim Kyle (D) 9A LP 741-4167 sen.jim.kyle@capitol.tn.gov Senator Beverly Marrero (D) 11A LP 741-9128 sen.beverly.marrero@capitol.tn.gov Senator Paul Stanley ® 302 WMB 741-3036 sen.paul.stanley@capitol.tn.gov Note: It is possible that the office assignments will change during the recess. I am generally pleased with the list. Senator Beavers and her husband are BOTH TFA life members. Senator Jackson is an active shooter, a personal friend, and has helped us quite a bit by sponsoring much of the 2nd Amendment legislaton as well as encouraging other Senate and House members to do the same. As has been the case over the last few years, we should do well in the Senate. Of course, predicting our course in the House depends greatly on not only committee assignments but also the degree of actual control that Naifeh, Odom and Turner will hold relative to the new Speaker Williams. Although Speaker Williams has publicly said that the "gun bills" would come to the floor for a vote, we do not know if that is all of them or just a few nor do we know what form they will be in. John Harris Executive Director www.tennesseefirearms.com

I carry in and around the farm... always, as well as off the farm. The Boy Scout motto comes to mind.

Wasn't sure where to post this and couldn't get access to the General forum. Please if needed. Received a phone call this morning From the NRA-ILA Tennessee Grassroot Coordinator who fired me for my negative comments about the incompetent NRA Tennessee liaison. It appears one of my fellow TN EVC's "turned me in", probably on this site. I understand that "if you take the king's coin you must do the king's bidding" but it still burns since the issue about the liaison isn't one that the NRA hasn't heard about. Been the 1st District's Election Volunteer Coordinator since the program began back in 1994. Guess "the gun lobby" can't take the heat.

http://commercialappeal.com/news/2009/jan/13/democrats-unite/ Democrats unite to elect moderate Republican as House speaker By Richard Locker Memphis Commercial Appeal Originally published 12:53 p.m., January 13, 2009 Updated 02:33 p.m., January 13, 2009 NASHVILLE — Republican Kent Williams won a stunning 50-49 victory for speaker of the state House of Representatives this afternoon. The unexpected election of Williams, a moderate Republican from Elizabethton in upper East Tennessee, came after House Democrats nominated him in place of long-time Speaker Jimmy Naifeh of Covington. Williams won on the strength of his own vote plus all 49 Democrats. He defeated Jason Mumpower of Bristol, who had been the pick of House GOP members. Although he describes himself as conservative, Williams, 59, is viewed as a moderate by his peers and was opposed by conservative Republicans in his primary election last summer. Republican spectators in the gallery erupted in loud boos when the vote was announced. They booed him again when he took the podium, and someone shouted “traitor†as he pledged to be bipartisan. Republican representatives on the floor remained stony-faced. In the aftermath of the booing, two state troopers entered the chamber and stood on both sides of the speaker’s podium. This afternoon’s vote came after Republicans gained a 50-49 edge in the House in last year’s elections, winning a majority for the first time since 1869. Williams, in his second two-year term in the House, owns a restaurant in downtown Elizabethton and also farms. He plans to appoint Republicans to “at least half†of the committee chairmanships and said he plans to consult with both Republican and Democratic leaders on the appointments. Williams said he approached Democrats about being a candidate for speaker about two days ago. When it became apparent there were not enough votes to re-elect Naifeh, Democrats threw their support behind Williams to ensure at least a share of power. Williams said that legislation Republicans have long sought to pass, including an anti-abortion constitutional amendment and more lenient gun bills, will make it to the House floor for votes under his tenure. “I’m not going to stack committees against anything,†he said.

Almost got a House floor vote last time in spite of Naifeh. If new speaker is not another Kent Coleman (lied to NRA for a good rating) we might get a fair up/down vote; which of course some of our representatives don't want as then they'd be held accountable.

We can stay up to date by subscribing to the TFALAC alerts at http://www.tfaonline.org/index.php/subscribe_alerts/index This is a low volume email list open to the public and TFA membership is not required. Most of the postings relate to bills in the TN Assembly and their status.

I don't want to speak for John Harris but the tone of John's comments in the TFALAC alert indicates to me a wait and see attitude. As stated perhaps gun friendly bills will at least make it to the House floor for a vote. As for the NRA, :: shrugs:: they tend to play a "can't we all just get along" position rather than draw a line in the sand. The current NRA liason hasn't done us much good. She's apparently willing to talk to legislators but refuses to take advice from Tennessee gun owners/organizations. Quite a disappointment so far. We at least had the ear of her predecessor, Darren LaSorte.

NRA gave him an A rating... for what that's worth.

Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. Legislative Action Committee As I am watching the proceedings in the Tennessee House of Representatives and the Naifeh machine at work. The Democrat leadership nominated Republican Kent Williams as Speaker of the House to run against Rep. Jason Mumpower. Williams apparently voted for himself and received the votes of apparently all 49 Democrats. After making his acceptance speech, he continues to refer to "Speaker Jimmy Naifeh" and defers to him to finish out the proceedings even though Naifeh is no longer Speaker. The next item of business is the nomination of a Speaker Pro Tem. The first nominee from the Democrats is Lois Deberry. The Republicans ask for a recess to decide what to do after this bombshell. It will be interesting to hear the fallout as he predicts in his acceptance speech that he may not be a Republican much longer. John Harris Executive Director

http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/military_domestic_use/2008/12/23/164765.html?s=sp&promo_code=7651-1 U.S. Military Preparing for Domestic Disturbances Tuesday, December 23, 2008 1:14 PM By: Jim Meyers A new report from the U.S. Army War College discusses the use of American troops to quell civil unrest brought about by a worsening economic crisis. The report from the War College’s Strategic Studies Institute warns that the U.S. military must prepare for a “violent, strategic dislocation inside the United States†that could be provoked by “unforeseen economic collapse†or “loss of functioning political and legal order.†Entitled “Known Unknowns: Unconventional ‘Strategic Shocks’ in Defense Strategy Development,†the report was produced by Nathan Freier, a recently retired Army lieutenant colonel who is a professor at the college — the Army’s main training institute for prospective senior officers. He writes: “To the extent events like this involve organized violence against local, state, and national authorities and exceed the capacity of the former two to restore public order and protect vulnerable populations, DoD [Department of Defense] would be required to fill the gap.†Freier continues: “Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force the defense establishment to reorient priorities in extremis to defend basic domestic order … An American government and defense establishment lulled into complacency by a long-secure domestic order would be forced to rapidly divest some or most external security commitments in order to address rapidly expanding human insecurity at home.†International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned last week of riots and unrest in global markets if the ongoing financial crisis is not addressed and lower-income households are beset with credit constraints and rising unemployment, the Phoenix Business Journal reported. Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Rep. Brad Sherman of California disclosed that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson discussed a worst-case scenario as he pushed the Wall Street bailout in September, and said that scenario might even require a declaration of martial law. The Army College report states: “DoD might be forced by circumstances to put its broad resources at the disposal of civil authorities to contain and reverse violent threats to domestic tranquility. Under the most extreme circumstances, this might include use of military force against hostile groups inside the United States. “Further, DoD would be, by necessity, an essential enabling hub for the continuity of political authority in a multi-state or nationwide civil conflict or disturbance.†He concludes this section of the report by observing: “DoD is already challenged by stabilization abroad. Imagine the challenges associated with doing so on a massive scale at home." As Newsmax reported earlier, the Defense Department has made plans to deploy 20,000 troops nationwide by 2011 to help state and local officials respond to emergencies. The 130-year-old Posse Comitatus Act restricts the military’s role in domestic law enforcement. But a 1994 Defense Department Directive allows military commanders to take emergency actions in domestic situations to save lives, prevent suffering or mitigate great property damage, according to the Business Journal. And Gen. Tommy Franks, who led the U.S. military operations to liberate Iraq, said in a 2003 interview that if the U.S. is attacked with a weapon of mass destruction, the Constitution will likely be discarded in favor of a military form of government.

************************************************************************************************************************************************************** "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C.S. Lewis

<!--StartFragment -->Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. Legislative Action Committee I know of at least 3 FFL holders in parts of the state of Tennessee who are actively being pursued by ATF on license revocations and/or who have recently surrendered the license because its simply too expenses and to hard to fight ATF. I have been told there are many more. What I have seen is that this trend by the ATF is getting worse and will likely get much worse with Obama in control of the Executive Branch (and thus appointing the Attorney General) and with Pelosi and Reed in almost total control of Congress. Couple that with Republicans who are increasingly federalists and the future for gun owners shows an increasingly dark cloud on the horizon. One trend I am seeing is that ATF is spending weeks and in some instances months doing a "compliance inspection" that Congress (as if those elected to Congress really remain true to the Constitution once they get there....) initially intended be a relatively brief spot check to confirm that things were running smoothly and, if not, to give correct instruction and guidance. Inspections which were intended to be cooperative and to help licensees have now become essentially a dreaded visit from the "angel of death" masquerading as the ATF knocking at the door with a slogan of "we are the government and we are here to help you...." Instead, these compliance inspections have turned into burdensome and time consuming almost-anal dissections of a FFL's entire existence including a scrutiny of the FFL's records at a level never seen on a regular basis prior to 2004 and never heard of prior to 2001. ATF has succeeded in convincing the federal courts that it has the absolute authority to revoke a federal firearms license if it finds even one (1) error on a 4473, or even one (1) error involving anything else that a FFL is required by law or regulation to do. Arguments that perfection cannot be attained have been resisted by the ATF (an institution with an admitted willingness to perjure itself in court in the name of getting guns off the street see documents compiled at GunOwners) or simple Google "ATF INSTITUTIONAL PERJURY"). ATF has sadly but repeatedly convinced the federal courts that these errors need only be reckless and that specific intent is not required (ATF actually argues that negligence is all that is required). See Oct 2008 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Armalite v. Marcia Lambert The federal courts have bought in to ATF's argument and essentially find that normal record keeping errors are not "normal" or acceptable errors if they are on any document that the licensee is required by law or regulation to maintain. The courts find this determination to be even easier if the licensee has ever had a prior inspection that resulted in the licensee being advised that there were record errors (which is quite common) and that future errors would be considered "willful" violations of the law. Its an absurd argument and frankly a standard that the ATF does not hold its own agents accountable to (agents often make all kinds of errors in preparing their "worksheets" that are used to document the "errors" by federal licensees in order to revoke their licenses). In addition, a 2008 Government report found that ATF had lost 76 of its own firearms and 418 laptop computers. http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/reports/ATF/a0829/findings.htm But, of course, no one is even thinking about revoking the ATF's authority as a result of these "willful" errors in their duties and/or firing (or even criminally prosecuting) those employees who were in charge of those items. Thus, ATF argues and courts agree, any single error or omission on a Form 4473 or any error or omission (including even transposed numbers in a serial number or minimal delays in transposing information from a 4473 to the bound books) is sufficient to put a dealer out of business. I would like to find some means of quantifying how many FFL holders in Tennessee over the last 5 to 10 years have been subjected to ATF license revocation proceeds (including those who have surrendered their license as well as those who are or have fought to keep their licenses). Asking ATF for this information is useless because they will not disclose the information willingly. I would like to start documenting, perhaps to assist willing federal legislators, the ATF abuses in Tennessee so that the changes which are needed to reign in the ATF's intentional attack on licensees can hopefully be curtailed before it reaches the point that Tennessee's gun owners will no longer be able to buy guns - not because guns have been banned but because federal licensees have been abused out of business by the ATF on purpose. <!--StartFragment -->Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. John Harris P.O. Box 198722, Nashville, TN 37219

The January meeting of the Tennessee Firearms Association Lakeway Chapter will be held on Tuesday evening, the 20th of January, 2009 Charley Williams, Director of the EMT program at Walters State Community College will speak on post incidence trauma care. Mr. Williams looks forward to answering audience questions. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Our meeting place is the Shoneys Family Restaurant at 1933 West Andrew Johnson Highway (Hwy 11E), Morristown TN.This restaurant is located 1/2 block east of the West Andrew Johnson highway (Hwy 11E) and Morris Blvd intersection, more or less across from the Home Depot. There is a large, highly visible sign in front along with plenty of parking space. A pre-meeting social hour is from 6 PM to 7 PM during which you may want to eat dinner. The meeting will begin promptly at 7 PM and end at 8 PM. Opportunity will be given to ask questions related to the topic. Membership is not required - gun owners, 2nd Amendment supporters, and interested public are urged to attend. For more information contact Bill Kaylor 423 586 9121/email w9dsm@charter.net or Tim Nunan 423-586-8459/email bentcreek@outdrs.net.

TENNESSEE FIREARMS ASSOCIATION KNOXVILLE CHAPTER THE JANUARY MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY EVENING JANUARY 6, 2009 Our guest speaker, Mike Acuff, a “Master Falconerâ€, will do a program on “FALCONRYâ€. He will bring a live Red Tailed Hawk and do a demonstration. This is sure to be a very interesting meeting. Mike is a TFA member and has done a program for us on the American Eagle. This meeting will he held at The IHOP restaurant, in front of Lowe’s, on Chapman Highway at the intersection of John Sevier Highway in South Knoxville. A pre-meeting social hour is from 6 PM to 7 pm during which you may wish to eat dinner. The meeting will begin at 7 PM and end at 8 PM. Participation by those in attendance is always encouraged. Gun owners, persons involved in the shooting sports, Second Amendment supporters and interested public are urged to attend, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO ATTEND. For more information contact: Bill Noll; wsnoll@comcast.net 865-688-0321 or Charlie Thoms; Cthoms43@aol.com 865-233-4561

With the change allowing carry in national parks it is possible we might be able to get the state law changed as well.

While Obama may not seek anti-gun legislation I have no doubt he'll quickly sign it when Shumer et al start pushing their anti-gun agenda. The best we can hope for is a filibuster in the Senate.

"When the House convenes, McDaniel will also be the GOP nominee for House speaker pro tem." Unknown to me is that the House speaker pro tem can sit in any committee (just as Naifeh did as speaker) and vote on any bill before the committee. Since McDaniel has been a Naifeh supporter in the past I'm concerned we may have a rat in the wood pile. :: takes tin foil hat off::

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