New Gun Movement: In TN that Could Spread Across GOP States in an Ugly Way

 

This chart says it all in a very scary way

A topic most people avoid with any common sense – guns.

This is one very scary and totally insane story from ABC News with a very worthwhile video introduction (11-minutes) and this story headline:

“Some gun permit holders would become law enforcement in state bill”

Legislation introduced in the Tennessee state legislature this month is raising alarms from the state's police union and gun control advocates who say it could turn the streets into the “Old West.”

Two bills in the state assembly and state senate (HB 254 and SB 2523), would amend Tennessee law and “designate a person who has been issued an enhanced handgun carry permit as a member of law enforcement.”

A summary for the bill on the Tennessee General Assembly website reads: “As introduced, expands the definition of law enforcement officer to include a person who has been issued an enhanced handgun carry permit; provided, that the permit is not suspended, revoked, or expired, for purposes of authority to carry a firearm under certain circumstances.” 

There are currently 686,348 active enhanced handgun carry permit holders in TN, and that is according to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, which issues gun permits. A spokesperson for the department declined to comment about the proposed legislation as written.

Although the legislation doesn't yet have any hearings scheduled and the assembly version has only one co-sponsor, it's already getting pushback, including from a police union who says it could ultimately lead to more gun violence. 

Jonathan Gold, a Michigan-based firearms instructor and member of the non-profit Giffords Gun Owners for Safety, told ABC News: “The bill would encourage more vigilantism that would ultimately lead to more harm than good.”

My 2 Cents: I agree with Mr. Gold’s assessment above and the work and goals of the Giffords Gun Owners for Safety organization.

BTW: I fully support the premise of the 2^nd Amendment that “… the right of the people to keep and bear Arms – shall not be infringed.”

At the same time, however, this kind of bill in TN, and I suspect we will see pop up in other GOP/Red-run states will follow suit, thus making that provision law. 

And, yes it is truly insane and yes, it would not only return us the old west days, but worse to the “Wild, Wild West” days where guns prevailed as law and order and ran amok.

Hopefully none of that will happen. But in these crazy times, who knows for sure. Bookmark this story and stay tuned. It could get nasty and ugly in a very bad and quick way.

Thanks for stopping by.