"Why go somewhere dangerous you would need a gun?"
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:54 pmDear Speaker Williams, Committee and House Members:
I don't know how many of you are familiar with the daily risks in the Memphis area. Recently, Memphis ranked second most dangerous among cities over 500,000 in 2007, as well as the second most dangerous metropolitan area once again. In 2006, the Memphis metropolitan area ranked number one in violent crimes for major cities around the U.S. according to the FBI's annual crime rankings, where it had ranked 2nd in 2005. Crime appears to be getting worse, not better.
Most of you then, can understand that people want to be protected. Statistics show, with the deepest respect for Law Enforcement, that it is not likely police will be able to prevent violent crime in a pro-active role.
This is a lesson I have personally learned the hard way on a Memphis residential street and have a prosthetic orbit (eye socket) to remind me of that. Plus, the memory of a shotgun being held to my head and being told I would be dead if I went to the police. So, I have tried it Representative Sontany’s way, but more on her philosophy below. Some of you tell us; “well you can carry a gun sometimes, but lock it in your car if you go into certain restaurants, the parks you pay for, etc.”
Memphis Police Dept. Deputy Chief Jim Tusant has previously testified for former Rep. Henri Brooks against our restaurant carry bill. However, Deputy Chief Tusant had several of his own weapons stolen from his marked patrol car, in the controlled access city garage across the street from police headquarters. When asked by former Rep. Jerome Cochran to give one example, just one, to substantiate his criticism of the bill, Deputy Chief Tusant could not give any evidence, whatsoever. None.
In fact, MPD Director Larry Godwin said, in a November 30th, 2008 newspaper article; "Cars do not make good safes.” Additionally in the same article, MPD Major Joe Scott said, “Nobody should leave a gun in their car.” "That's stupid. If you're not going to have your gun with you, it's not doing you any good in the car."
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... r-vehicle/
With all this in mind, let me take this opportunity to quote Committee Member, Representative Sontany:
Rep. Janis Sontany (D-Nashville) - to Collierville TFA Member, Scott Frick, April 7th, 2005.
Individual restaurant business owners are the ones that need to decide how to run their businesses, not big brother and the Nanny State. They could post their restaurants prohibiting armed patrons with this legislation passed, just as they can now. Please send clean gun bills to the floor and then if you don't agree with them, vote no and let your constituents judge whether or not you are accurately representing them.
Respectfully,
Pat McGarrity
Director - Shelby County TFA
http://www.tennesseefirearms.com
I don't know how many of you are familiar with the daily risks in the Memphis area. Recently, Memphis ranked second most dangerous among cities over 500,000 in 2007, as well as the second most dangerous metropolitan area once again. In 2006, the Memphis metropolitan area ranked number one in violent crimes for major cities around the U.S. according to the FBI's annual crime rankings, where it had ranked 2nd in 2005. Crime appears to be getting worse, not better.
Most of you then, can understand that people want to be protected. Statistics show, with the deepest respect for Law Enforcement, that it is not likely police will be able to prevent violent crime in a pro-active role.
This is a lesson I have personally learned the hard way on a Memphis residential street and have a prosthetic orbit (eye socket) to remind me of that. Plus, the memory of a shotgun being held to my head and being told I would be dead if I went to the police. So, I have tried it Representative Sontany’s way, but more on her philosophy below. Some of you tell us; “well you can carry a gun sometimes, but lock it in your car if you go into certain restaurants, the parks you pay for, etc.”
Memphis Police Dept. Deputy Chief Jim Tusant has previously testified for former Rep. Henri Brooks against our restaurant carry bill. However, Deputy Chief Tusant had several of his own weapons stolen from his marked patrol car, in the controlled access city garage across the street from police headquarters. When asked by former Rep. Jerome Cochran to give one example, just one, to substantiate his criticism of the bill, Deputy Chief Tusant could not give any evidence, whatsoever. None.
In fact, MPD Director Larry Godwin said, in a November 30th, 2008 newspaper article; "Cars do not make good safes.” Additionally in the same article, MPD Major Joe Scott said, “Nobody should leave a gun in their car.” "That's stupid. If you're not going to have your gun with you, it's not doing you any good in the car."
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... r-vehicle/
With all this in mind, let me take this opportunity to quote Committee Member, Representative Sontany:
Rep. Janis Sontany (D-Nashville) - to Collierville TFA Member, Scott Frick, April 7th, 2005.
Individual restaurant business owners are the ones that need to decide how to run their businesses, not big brother and the Nanny State. They could post their restaurants prohibiting armed patrons with this legislation passed, just as they can now. Please send clean gun bills to the floor and then if you don't agree with them, vote no and let your constituents judge whether or not you are accurately representing them.
Respectfully,
Pat McGarrity
Director - Shelby County TFA
http://www.tennesseefirearms.com