Anti-Gun RINO sues to pave way for consolidation

[Pat McGarrity]

Anti-Gun RINO, Shelby County Commission Board Chairman Pro Tempore, Mike Carpenter,

http://shelbycountytn.gov/FirstPortal/d ... er_bio.htm

is part of a pro consolidation group that is trying to sue it's way into ramming consolidation down the throats of his constituents.

You may remember that Commissioner Carpenter only wants criminals armed in Shelby County parks, while prohibiting LEGALLY armed citizens in the parks they pay for. Carpenter has been pushing consolidation, including the merger of the MPD and Shelby County Sheriff's Office, since his election in 2006.

Although very active in GOP politics, Carpenter often votes like a Democrat and, as you can see below, is not above crawling into bed with his litigation loving comrades. Like most busy people, I'm not educated on the process that allows individuals like Carpenter to be in positions of power in the Republican party, while taking positions inconsistent with the views of most Republicans. The GOP will most likely be given a tremendous opportunity by the voters of Tennessee and America soon.

It would be wise for party leaders to consider this a cross roads where one choice is to follow Constitutional guidelines and return our government to the roll our Founding Fathers envisioned. To set an ethical, responsible example that will set them apart as statesmen, and stateswomen, that actually listen and serve their constituents in this great Republic.

The other choice is to follow the road that Mike Carpenter is on.

In Liberty,

Pat McGarrity
Director - Shelby County TFA

http://www.tennesseefirearms.com


"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable
as the will and moral courage of free men and women.

- Ronald Reagan



http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... nconstitu/




The voting process to approve a consolidated metro charter — with separate majorities of Memphis and suburban voters required for it to pass — violates the one-person, one-vote principle and should be declared unconstitutional, according to a federal lawsuit.

The suit filed Thursday by attorneys Leo Bearman and J. Houston Gordon claims the current system gives more weight to county voters outside Memphis, possibly allowing a minority of voters to thwart the will of the majority.

"I cannot comment on the merits of the case, but I will simply say that the plaintiffs in this case believe that the constitution requires every person's vote to have equal weight," said Gordon.

The plaintiffs in the case include former Memphis NAACP executive secretary Maxine Smith, attorney Russell Sugarmon, Shelby County Commissioners Mike Carpenter and J.W. Gibson, Memphis City Schools board member Martavius Jones and Kerr Tigrett, among others. The suit was filed against state Atty. Gen. Robert E. Cooper Jr., Secretary of State Tre Hargett and members of the Shelby County Election Commission.

State law requires that the proposed charter must win a majority of votes inside the Memphis city limits and also outside the city in the Nov. 2 election.

The plaintiffs, who are seeking an "expedited hearing," ask that the state system be declared unconstitutional because it violates the 14th and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

"Because approximately 73 percent of the citizens of Shelby County live in the city of Memphis and, therefore, 27 percent of the citizens of Shelby County reside outside of Memphis, this requirement drastically dilutes the votes of citizens who reside within the city of Memphis," says the lawsuit.

"Additionally, this requirement has the added effect of diluting the vote of the African-American voters of Shelby County, as a whole, since a much-larger percentage of African-American voters reside in the city of Memphis as opposed to Shelby County, outside of Memphis."

Bill Giannini, chairman of the Election Commission, said he thinks the commission will be removed from the suit.

"We have no authority here," said Giannini. "We are just following state law, which says voters in the county outside Memphis can determine their fate, just like voters inside Memphis."

— Amos Maki: 529-2351