An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Guns In Tennessee
Tennessee gun permits up 23% last year; increase 16% in Shelby County
The number of Tennesseans licensed by the state to go armed increased by nearly 51,000 people last year — to 268,711, according to new state statistics.
That’s an increase of 23 percent over the 218,004 Tennesseans with handgun-carry permits on Jan. 1, 2009. By comparison, the 2008 increase was 14 percent, according to Tennessee Department of Safety figures.
In Shelby County, the number of residents with handgun-carry permits jumped by 5,205 in 2009 to 38,130, up 16 percent. The Shelby County increase in 2008 was 15 percent.
The new data indicate that about 6 percent of Tennessee residents old enough to have a handgun-carry permit — those ages 21 and up — had one at the start of this year.
The permit rate is a little lower among people with Memphis addresses. The 20,716 people in the city with gun permits account for about two out of every 50 Memphis residents 21 and up, or nearly 5 percent.
It seems to me that even more people over the age of 21, not just in Tennessee, but nationwide, should be armed. Why? Well, honestly, if you are a criminal, and you don’t know who is packing, you’re less likely to try to assault the citizen. I also don’t believe it should be necessary to have a permit of any sort to be personally armed. The Founders weren’t kidding when they added the 2nd Amendment:
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
This particular amendment has been picked apart, on both sides of the issue, for years, but what’s to pick? Granted, the English that the Founders spoke wasn’t exactly the same as the language we speak today, but the whole Constitution seems pretty clear to me, including this one piece. Without this one, the 1st Amendment is just words on a piece of paper.
“A well regulated militia…” A militia is made up of every day citizens….armed. That would be US. You and I. Yes, even back in the 18th century, women knew how to use weapons. Self defense was necessary for women then, and it’s even more so now.
In Article 1, Section 8, clause 15, Congress was given the power to call forth the militia to protect the country. These days, opponents consider the National Guard to be the militia. Seems to me their definition falls short of the actual meaning of militia.
The Constitution of the State of Tennessee states in Article 1, Sec. 26:
That the citizens of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.
Our state says we HAVE THE RIGHT to keep and bear arms. Common defense? That would be if someone broke into my home, tried to jack my car, or if I see some piece of crap beating down an elderly citizen, or something similar. It’s already against the law for felons to possess weapons. This is why I’m confused about the need to have a permit. I guess they consider this part of the regulating?
In reality, our rights, and that includes defense, do not come from the government. They come from a much, MUCH higher Authority, but I guess it was necessary for the Founders to point this out for future generations?
So, why are the people of Tennessee arming themselves, and taking classes to get their carry permit? Some might say that we are all nuts, are conspiracy theorists, that the Federal Government is going to come in and take away our liberty. Honestly, that may well be the case for some, but definitely not all.
My original reason? Well, it was because, I could. After living in a state for 10 years that believes adults are too irresponsible to have the right that the U.S. Constitution granted them, it was a personal necessity. Yes, because I could! It was, and is, a great feeling.
I’m honestly surprised that the number of permit holders in Shelby County isn’t higher. We see the news coming out of Memphis, and it’s difficult to believe that more ordinary citizens are not exercising their rights of defense.
Lawmakers will try to resurrect the law they approved last year allowing permit holders to take guns into restaurants and other places serving alcohol, which a court struck down in November as unconstitutionally vague.
I’ve always had a problem with the court’s decision. I am not real sure how it could be considered vague. You look at the U.S. Constitution, you look at the TN Constitution……what’s vague?
Under present law, it is a Class A misdemeanor for a person to possess a firearm within the confines of a building open to the public where alcoholic beverages are served for on premises consumption. The following persons are exempt from the prohibition against carrying a firearm where alcoholic beverages are served for on premises consumption:
(1) Anyone in the actual discharge of official duties as a law enforcement officer, or employed in the U.S. armed forces or any member of the Tennessee national guard in the line of duty and pursuant to military regulations, or in the actual discharge of duties as a correctional officer employed by a penal institution; and
(2) Anyone on the person’s own premises or premises under the person’s control or who is the employee or agent of the owner of the premises with responsibility for protecting persons or property.
This bill adds another exemption to the prohibition against carrying a firearm where alcoholic beverages are served for on premises consumption for any person who meets the following conditions:
(1) The person has a handgun carry permit;
(2) The person is not consuming any alcoholic beverage; and
(3) The person is in an establishment that is open to the public, serves alcoholic beverages, wine or beer and is not an establishment that restricts admission to persons who are age 21 years or older by checking patrons’ identifications.
I dunno. It all seems pretty straight forward to me. If you aren’t sucking the suds, what’s the problem? Criminals aren’t going to pay a bit of attention to any law put forth by any legislative body anyway, or a sign on the door for that matter, so why shouldn’t law abiding citizens be able to defend themselves, and others, when said bad guys start firing?
The dramatic increase last year likely reflects a combination of factors, including wide publicity about the permit program and about legislative action in 2009 that allowed guns in bars and parks, said Richard Janikowski, associate professor of the University of Memphis Center for Community Criminology & Research.
Yeah, it’s amazing that folks are starting to wake up to the guaranteed liberties. /snark Seriously, it’s about flippin’ time!
“There’s been so much publicity about the legislative changes, about being able to carry guns in bars and parks. I think often that kind of publicity generates a reaction — like, ‘Well if that’s what the legislature says, maybe I should go get a permit,’” Janikowski said Friday.
And maybe….just maybe…..the education system sucks so bad that citizens weren’t even aware they had these rights until the media started getting their knickers in a twist over the bill? Just a thought.
The 24-hour news cycle, often filled with crime stories, also has affected perceptions of the problem, he said.
“People begin to feel they are constantly surrounded by crime no matter where they live. So I think we have this self-reinforcing cycle even though crime rates have been going down,” Janikowski said.
Violent crime in Memphis declined 9 percent from 2008 to 2009 and by about 15 percent since 2006, he said.
Declined? Really? I find that difficult to understand since the news we get out of Memphis is filled with a shooting here, a shooting there, an assault somewhere else, and those are just the ones that are ‘sensational’. We’ve only been in the state 3 years, but I gotta tell ya, if you think the crime in Milwaukee is bad, ya oughta take a look at the Memphis news sometime. 
Tennessee’s handgun-carry permit program has evolved over the past 15 years, partly as a result of a nationwide push by the National Rifle Association to streamline laws. Until the late 1990s when lawmakers switched the program to the state Department of Safety, permits were issued by county sheriffs.
Unless a state’s Constitution expressly forbids it’s citizens from owning weapons, I don’t understand why there is so much uproar. If I happened to live in such a state, I’d be at the forefront of the uproar. 
Applicants must complete a handgun-safety course, provide proof of U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency and present a photo identification. The $115 permits must be renewed every four years, but no further training is required beyond that mandated for initial licensure.
Common sense would tell you if you are going to have a weapon, you should practice at a range of some sort, on a regular basis anyway.
Just my opinion, anyway.
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Why make an exception in the case of alcohol. If you can answer that one question to your own satisfaction, you’ll have a good start in understanding others’ hesitations.
Personally, I’d trade conceal up here in WI for stricter licensing. Duplicate auto registration and driver licensing — heck, you could administer them both from the same offices.
That should be “concealed carry”.
Lemme ask you this instead…. Are you a law abiding citizen? If so, why should you not be able to carry your method of self defense on your person? Ok, don’t tell me your choice would be a bazooka cuz that won’t fit in your pocket (purse), or on a holster.
If you don’t have a criminal record, why should there be stricter licensing?
Ok, I think one thing you are misunderstanding. In the state of Tennessee, there is no such thing as a “bar”. They are restaurants that serve alcohol. That is what the state law involves. Granted, there are some folks who get smashed when they go out to eat, but most rational people don’t. Not being a drinker, I don’t have this issue.