by Sky King » Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:21 pm
I cannot begin to list all the thoughts and emotions I have felt as a result of this.
Regardless of how the case unfolds for Curry himself or the final disposition of the case and charges, the damage done to pro-gun initiatives is indescribable. As the point man for one of the more heated and publicized bills, (restaurant carry bill) for more than two years, there couldn't have been a worse person to do what he did.
The detractors are having a field day with this. Even though there is nothing to support any notion that he had the firearm with him in an establishement that serves alcohol AND that he gun was NOT on his person but in his vehicle, the media will not make any distinction on that AND the bottom line is he HAD been drinking, (according to his reported statement of having had two drinks) and was in possession of his firearm (in your vehicle, loaded, next to you is "in possession)". That is, at least the way I understand it, IS a violation of the permit law.
I have said all that to say this. After a lot of consideration and reading of the comments on both the TFA Forum and The Tennessee Gun Owners forum, I have concluded that we can only have one response to this. We CAN NOT defend Curry Todd. We MUST defend the law that he worked for and pushed that he himself is in violation of. The general public has to know that we stand behind the arguments we made during the push for the law that we DO believe that alcohol and guns DO NOT mix and that those who violate that law are subject to the punishments outlined in that law and that INCLUDES Curry Todd.
I will always be gratefull for the hard work, time and effort that Curry put in getting that law passed but there is a piece of me that just wants to punch him right in the face. If that had been me, I would be subject to those laws but the media wouldn't give me a second look. Curry had to realize that his position and his very vocal and visable support of that bill placed him in the unfair but real position of having to maintain a higher standard of conduct.
If we are to have ANY chance of getting any pro-gun bills passed after this, we HAVE to take a positon that nobody is above the law, even those who write those laws.
Just my thoughts. I feel like he just put a shotgun blast right through the bottom of any parking lot bill boat for this year. Just when I had hopes that the light at the end of the tunnel was NOT the headlight of the on-comming freight train.
Sam Cooper
Memphis, Tennessee