SC TFA Thanks Sen. Mark Norris

[Pat McGarrity]

"Why would you go somewhere dangerous where you would need a gun?"

Rep. Janis Sontany (D-Nashville), Chair of the Constitutional "Protections" Subcommittee, to Collierville TFA Member, Scott Frick, April 7th, 2005.

On behalf of the Shelby County TFA, I'd like to thank Sen. Mark Norris for introducing SB 2928. This important legislation would outlaw misguided attempts by our state government to confiscate the only tools we have that stand between the murder, rape and robbery of our familles during a time of social unrest. This is understood nowhere better than here in Shelby County. This is such an important piece of legislation, I've already called the Nashville office of my Democrat senator; Jim "Those Gun Nuts", Kyle, for what good that may do.

Below is the national attention this legislation is getting from GOA, followed by an article David Waldrip sent us from the Chattanoogan quoting Senator Norris.

“At that time, it will be essential that all law abiding Tennesseans have the ability to defend themselves and maintain order where they live,” Sen. Norris said. “No governor should have the power to deny Tennesseans that right.”

- Senator Mark Norris

Please join me in thanking Senator Norris and supporting this needed, common sense legislation.

In Liberty,

Pat McGarrity

Director - Shelby County, TFA


----- Original Message -----
From: "Gun Owners of America" <Gun_Owners_of_America@capwiz.mailmanager.net>
To:
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 2:57 PM
Subject: TN: No Gun Confiscations During Emergencies


> "Emergency Powers" Is No Excuse To Disarm Citizens
> -- Insist that your rights be protected just when you need them most
>
> Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
> 8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
> Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
> http://www.gunowners.org
>
> Tuesday, March 14, 2006
>
>
> Good News!
>
> Following egregious examples of anti-gun misbehavior by the New
> Orleans police during the "state of emergency" there, a Tennessee
> legislator has introduced legislation to insure the same thing
> doesn't happen in The Volunteer State.
>
> SB 2928 -- introduced by Sen. Mark Norris (R-Dist. 32) -- would
> change state law to prohibit the confiscation of firearms and
> ammunition during a state of emergency. The bill has passed out of
> committee, and it could be taken up by the full Senate as early as
> this Thursday.
>
> You may recall that during the Hurricane Katrina debacle, video
> documentation surfaced showing that officials were disarming
> law-abiding gun owners who were doing nothing more than keeping their
> self-defense firearms available to protect their property and loved
> ones. (You can view this disgusting footage at
> http://www.gunowners.org/notb.htm on the GOA website.)
>
> Gun owner outrage led to the courts in Louisiana insisting that the
> practice cease -- after the fact -- but to keep it from happening
> again, officials need to be specifically prohibited from even TRYING
> it. Most states have "emergency powers" laws, and THAT is the hook
> anti-gun officials use to take away your guns just when you need them
> most.
>
> Sure, we can argue till we're blue in the face that the Second
> Amendment alone protects against such outrageous government behavior.
> Consider, however, that a state law specifically prohibiting any
> official from confiscating firearms in an emergency isn't something
> that is subject to debate... it's the law.
>
> SB 2928 would change the law of Tennessee to specifically make this
> kind of egregious activity illegal.
>
> This year, one of GOA's highest priorities at the state level is to
> address the problems with so-called "emergency powers" across the
> country. GOA-supported bills that will make it absolutely certain
> that no state official could disarm the citizenry during an emergency
> are currently pending in several states.
>
> It all started when GOA supplied video footage to Rep. Steve Scalise
> of Louisiana, after he had received reports of disarmament. The
> video was shown in conference during a Special Session of the
> legislature dealing with Katrina fallout, and the result was a 78-1
> vote REQUIRING the legislature to decide on GOA-approved legislation
> during Louisiana's normal session later this spring.
>
> Meanwhile, the national movement is growing steadily. Similar bills
> can be found in states like MS, NH, AK, VA, OH, and others... with
> several bills being introduced by legislators who are GOA members.
>
> An opportunity like SB 2928 cannot be left to the whims of
> politicians and the popular press -- gun owners have to make the
> difference as anti-gun and media scrutiny continues to increase.
>
> ACTION:
>
> 1. Please contact your state senator and ask him to support SB 2928.
> You can use the pre-written letter below -- and your senator's e-mail
> in the roster that is provided -- to help direct your comments to
> him.
>
> You can find out who your state senator is by going to the GOA
> Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm
> and then typing your zip code into the Elected Officials box. After
> that, click on the highlighted "state" link to see who your state
> senator is.
>
> 2. Take action and then please forward this alert to your pro-gun
> friends and family!
>
> ----- Pre-written message -----
>
> Dear Senator,
>
> Now that SB 2928 has passed out of committee, I urge you to support
> it when it comes before the full Senate. This bill is extremely
> necessary, as it would prohibit the unlawful and unconstitutional
> confiscation of firearms during a "state of emergency."
>
> The bill would outlaw police misbehavior such as the outrageous
> conduct in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, which was soundly
> rebuked by the courts.
>
> Please work to make certain that no anti-gun amendments are allowed
> on this important bill.
>
> Unlike some parts of the country, we in Tennessee value the right to
> keep and bear arms. Again, please reinforce this right by supporting
> SB 2928.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> *****************************************************************
>
> Tennessee Senate
>
> Dis Name Phone (615) E-Mail
>
> 01 Southerland 741-3851 sen.steve.southerland@legislature.state.tn.us
> 02 Ramsey 741-4524 sen.ron.ramsey@legislature.state.tn.us
> 03 Crowe 741-2468 sen.rusty.crowe@legislature.state.tn.us
> 04 Williams 741-2061 sen.micheal.williams@legislature.state.tn.us
> 05 McNally 741-6806 sen.randy.mcnally@legislature.state.tn.us
> 06 Woodson 741-1648 sen.jamie.woodson@legislature.state.tn.us
> 07 Burchett 741-1766 sen.tim.burchett@legislature.state.tn.us
> 08 Finney 741-2427 sen.raymond.finney@legislature.state.tn.us
> 09 Miller 741-3794 sen.jeff.miller@legislature.state.tn.us
> 10 Crutchfield 741-6682 sen.ward.crutchfield@legislature.state.tn.us
> 11 Fowler 741-1764 sen.david.fowler@legislature.state.tn.us
> 12 Kilby 741-1449 sen.tommy.kilby@legislature.state.tn.us
> 13 Ketron 741-6853 sen.bill.ketron@legislature.state.tn.us
> 14 Cooper 741-6694 sen.jerry.cooper@legislature.state.tn.us
> 15 Burks 741-3978 sen.charlotte.burks@legislature.state.tn.us
> 16 Tracy 741-1066 sen.jim.tracy@legislature.state.tn.us
> 17 Beavers 741-2421 sen.mae.beavers@legislature.state.tn.us
> 18 Black 741-1999 sen.diane.black@legislature.state.tn.us
> 19 Harper 741-2453 sen.thelma.harper@legislature.state.tn.us
> 20 Haynes 741-6679 sen.joe.haynes@legislature.state.tn.us
> 21 Henry 741-3291 sen.douglas.henry@legislature.state.tn.us
> 22 Kurita 741-2374 sen.rosalind.kurita@legislature.state.tn.us
> 23 Bryson 741-2495 sen.jim.bryson@legislature.state.tn.us
> 24 Herron 741-4576 sen.roy.herron@legislature.state.tn.us
> 25 Jackson 741-4499 sen.doug.jackson@legislature.state.tn.us
> 26 Wilder 741-2368 lt.gov.john.wilder@legislature.state.tn.us
> 27 McLeary 741-6966 sen.don.mcleary@legislature.state.tn.us
> 28 Kyle 741-4167 sen.jim.kyle@legislature.state.tn.us
> 29 Ford 741-1767 N/A
> 30 Cohen 741-4108 sen.stephen.cohen@legislature.state.tn.us
> 31 Person 741-2419 sen.curtis.person@legislature.state.tn.us
> 32 Norris 741-1967 sen.mark.norris@legislature.state.tn.us
> 33 Bowers 741-2509 sen.kathryn.bowers@legislature.state.tn.us
>
> *****************************************************************
>
> Please do not reply directly to this message, as your reply will
> bounce back as undeliverable.
>
> To subscribe to free, low-volume GOA alerts, go to
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http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_81735.asp

Self Defense Measure Advances
posted March 9, 2006

Legislation amending the governor’s emergency powers, which currently allow the confiscation of firearms and restrictions on the sale of ammunition during declared emergencies, is closer to becoming law after Senate committee approval.

Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville) moved Senate Bill 2928 through the Senate State and Local Government Committee Tuesday. The bill would prohibit the governor from ordering any confiscation of weapons from law-abiding citizens or restricting the ability to purchase guns and ammunition during times of natural disaster or declared emergency.

The measure is scheduled for a full Senate vote next Thursday.

“The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is never more precious than during natural disasters or declared emergencies when self defense can be the key to survival,” Sen. Norris said.

Sen. Norris, who chairs the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee, has been studying Tennessee’s emergency preparedness since last summer when Hurricane Katrina revealed deficiencies in many state plans, including Tennessee’s.

In New Orleans, governmental confiscation of citizens’ arms sparked outrage in the aftermath of Katrina. A federal judge later enjoined the City of New Orleans from violating Second Amendment rights after the National Rifle Association (NRA) filed suit.

“There is no justification to prohibit law-abiding citizens from possessing firearms during these critical times,” said Darren LaSorte of the NRA. “The experience in New Orleans taught us that citizens deserve a means of defending their families during a crisis.”

Sen. Norris said preparation is important, including protecting the option of self defense measures.

“We never know when disaster will strike. Tennessee is vulnerable in many ways, and citizens may have to fend for themselves,” Sen. Norris said. “This includes not only personal provisions in the event of a mandatory quarantine, but the ability to defend one’s home place and family in the absence of adequate law enforcement.”

In coming weeks, Sen. Norris predicts that increasing concern over an outbreak of avian flu will take center stage in Tennessee.

“As media reports become more prevalent on the issue, administration officials are beginning to take notice,” Sen. Norris said. “But overtures are not enough. There are tremendous loopholes in the state plan to be addressed.”

Sen. Norris referred to recent efforts by the Bredesen administration to update the state’s 2003 flu plan, which assumes an effective flu vaccine exists. There is currently no known vaccination for avian flu.

According to Sen. Norris, quarantine will be the only effective measure.

“At that time, it will be essential that all law abiding Tennesseans have the ability to defend themselves and maintain order where they live,” Sen. Norris said. “No governor should have the power to deny Tennesseans that right.”

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All:

Please join me in gratitude that we have someone like Senator Mark Norris in leadership in the State Senate.

Thanks.

David Waldrip
NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator
TN-7