ANTI-GUN LOBBYIST HAD OWN GUNS STOLEN FROM PATROL CAR

[Pat McGarrity]

4-21-05

ANTI GUN SPEAKER HAD HIS OWN GUNS STOLEN FROM PATROL CAR


Memphis Police Dept. Deputy Chief Jim Tusant testified for Rep. Henri Brooks yesterday against the restaurant carry bill, HB2225. This common sense legislation would allow Tennessee Carry Permit Holders, like Rep. Brooks' own daughter, to carry their gun in restaurants that serve alcohol, as long as they aren't drinking, instead of leaving it in their car, where it could be stolen by criminals.

Although Deputy Chief Tusant has had several of his own weapons stolen from his patrol car, in the city garage across from police headquarters, he spoke against the bill on behalf of the anti gun group; the International Association of Chiefs Of Police, who works hand in glove with anti gun lobby leader, Sarah Brady:

http://www.theiacp.org/documents/pdfs/C ... 2604%2Epdf

(Mrs. Brady has admitted to engaging in a straw purchase, when she bought a gun on her son's behalf in December of 2000, allowing him to avoid the required criminal background check, a blatant act of hypocrisy and a violation of Delaware law)

When asked by Rep. Jerome Cochran to give one example, just one, to substantiate his criticism of the bill, Tusant could not give any evidence, whatsoever. None. He just felt that he didn't like it, despite the fact that 33 states have this provision, and most even allow the armed patron to drink. Despite the fact that there has been no crime associated with this.

Deputy Chief Tusant is a firearms collector and an avid shooter. I'm checking to see if he is an NRA and/or GOA member. It's difficult to understand why he doesn't realize the risk of having firearms stolen from vehicles, as he had several of his own weapons stolen from his tax payer funded M.P.D. cruiser in the late 1990s. I'm working to get the police report on this, as it's public information. His police cruiser which was parked on the top floor of the city owned parking garage on Washington Street, directly across from the Criminal Justice Center at 201 Poplar Ave. Being where many cops park, you would think that might be a fairly secure area, more-so than your average restaurant parking lot.

If locking a gun in your vehicle is safe, why is it a direct violation of M.P.D. policy for an officer to secure his/her service pistol in a vehicle unless it is double locked and alarmed?

I wonder if Deputy Chief Tusant locks his service pistol in his tax payer funded vehicle, that he gets to drive home, when he goes to dinner at O'Charley's or some other "family friendly" restaurant which just happens to also serve liquor??? If not, to expect us to be unarmed, while inviting criminals to arm themselves, is a hypocrite-elitist position.

In Liberty,

Pat McGarrity

Director - Shelby County, TFA