Letter to Brooks regarding his Res. to close Jackson Parks

[C. Richard Archie]

City Councilman Ernest Brooks, II
122 Fairmont Avenue
Jackson, TN 38301


Dear Mr. Brooks,

I would like to respectfully request that you reconsider the Resolution that you have proffered to the City Council regarding Handgun Carry in Parks and Restaurants.

A few pertinent facts are applicable to this discussion that you may not be aware of:

1. The passage of this bill in the Tennessee Legislature was bipartisan in nature. The make up of our House of Representatives is 49 Democrats and 50 Republicans; the vote for override of the Governor’s veto of this initiative was 69 in favor 27 against. The Senate is made up of 14 Democrats, and 19 Republicans, the vote to override there was 21 in favor 9 against. This clearly illustrates a bipartisan intent.

2. The vote totals for the Parks Carry Bill mirrors the above, 68 House Members for, 26 against. The Senate posted 24 in favor, 8 in opposition, one abstaining from the vote.

3. The Federal House and Senate show a much higher percentage of Democrats in both Houses, but relative to the vote on the latest issue involving Handgun Carry in Parks, the House voted 279 to 147 in favor of allowing the qualified and properly permitted citizen to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights, of that 279 in favor, 105 Democrats supported the Bill. In the US Senate, 67 supported the issue, of those 27 were Democrats.

4. Just this last Friday night, a joint Task Force was assembled to combat the extremely high crime rate in Jackson. Included in this Task Force were members of the Metro Narcotics Division, Jackson Police Department Gang Unit, Tactical Unit, Street Crimes Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service and Madison County Community Corrections, put together in response to the many recent shootings in Jackson area, according to Jackson Police Chief Rick Staples. I offer that this massive show of force and arms would not be required in a location that did not warrant it, and if Law Enforcement sees the need for such a heavy handed approach, what should the average citizen think of his safety?

5. Regarding Handgun Carry Permit Holders in the State of Tennessee, in the calendar year 2008, over 220,000 individuals were in possession of said permits. For all reasons, including failure to pay child support, by order of protection due to divorce proceedings, and all other crimes, only 16/10,000 of 1% had their permits revoked. I suggest that the average Permit Holder is likely to be less a problem as a group than many other sections of our society.

6. Permit Holders are schooled in the responsibility of carrying, and using a handgun, both the criminal and civil aspects, as they are part of the required course of study necessary to perfect obtaining a permit. Should a permit holder be found under the influence of alcohol while in possession of their weapon, they are subject to a $2,500.00 fine, 11 months 29 days in prison, and the loss of their permit.


Our Representatives and Senators are responding to the cries for help from their constituents, citizens tired of being fearful at the hands of criminals that care not for any law, and see the inhabitants of our City as merely a source for ill gotten gain. Quoted earlier in the Jackson Sun, Sheriff Woolfork said of individuals having Carry Permits “I personally see it as a possible deterrent to crime. If a robber doesn’t know if a person is carrying a gun, it may make them think twice before approaching someone. Citizens are just exercising their rights, trends change, and this is one of those trends that are up right now.” Again, from the Jackson Sun, Chief Staples agreed that an increase in handgun carry permit holders means a safer public. “Initially, there was a lot of concern about citizens who were not law enforcement being armed and how they would respond, “ he said. “But the handgun program has proven to be successful.”

In light of the compelling numbers of support by all facets of our society, (our Legislature merely reflects the wishes of it’s constituent base) for the intrinsic right to be individually armed for our protection, guaranteed by our Bill of Rights, upheld consequently by the Supreme Court of the United States via Heller, I implore you to rethink and rescind your petition to render the good citizens of Jackson impotent in the quest to provide for their own defense.


C. Richard Archie
Chapter Leader
West Tennessee Regional Chapter
Tennessee Firearms Association
rarchie@tennesseefirearms.com