A letter from the TN Sheriff's Assoc.

[SomeGuy]

I received an interesting letter from the TSA today. Basically, the TN Sheriff's Association was saying that I, as a HCP holder (I can only assume they got a copy of the list and sent a mass mailing) should join their org because they know I am concerned about crime, and that the TSA supports my rights to carry, saying "The Tennessee Sheriff's Association is a great supporter of your right to carry a firearm and the TSA helped to sponsor the original Handgun Carry Permit in Tennessee." (Bold theirs).

First off, by original (which they did NOT bold) do they mean the old may issue?

Second, wasn't the TSA opposed to reforms to the HCP laws?

Third, isn't it lovely who sends out mass mailings recruiting from our lists?

[Tim Nunan]

I received my letter yesterday and had many of these same thoughts.

[JTravis]

Yeah, I got one of those, too. Liked the little detail about having the handgun emblem put on the ID card, "identifying" us as permit holders. There's a great marketing idea to appeal to 2ndA activists- "hey, guys, send us money so we can REGISTER you all as having firearms!" Is it me, or does that just seem a wee bit bass-ackwards?

[David Lewis]

Like several of you, I received this somewhat curious letter from the Tennessee Sheriff's Association (TSA), telling me what a friend to handgun owners and carry permit holders they'd always been.

As Paul Harvey says, though, here's "The Rest Of The Story:"

If memory serves, from around 1994-1996, the TSA strenuously opposed transferring the carry permit process from local county control to the State Dept of Safety. They continued to oppose such transfer (which would, and did, have the effect of removing their petty fiefdoms from the permitting process) right up until it became obvious that the transfer was inevitable...then they jumped on the bandwagon.

Since that time, the TSA has done nothing to support permit holders. I believe they have opposed both the restaurant & parks carry bills. Wonder if they support Jimmy Naifeh?

My wife saved the letter for me, but had already tossed the business reply envelope before I saw it. I suggest putting it to use in this manner: Rather than send them a contribution in their postage-paid envelope, why don't you send them a politely worded note informing them that you will glady support the TSA when they get on board and support the rights of Tennesseeans as provided for in both State and US Constitutions, and under law?

They have to pay the postage if the envelopes are used. They're guaranteed to be opened, because the TSA will hope to receive contributions in them. With the increasing cost of postage and gas, it makes sense to me. Send them a message--but perhaps not the one they're expecting!

David

P.S. Oh, yeah--they obviously bought the HCP holders list from the Dept of Safety...you might want to mention that, too.

[canynracer]

Hi I dont post much here, but here is what I did on 7/23:

I Just send this to Sheriff Davenport sheriff@jctsd.org (TSA President)

Hello Sheriff Davenport,

I recently recieved a letter from the TSA asking me to become a member. The letter begins "As a Handgun Carry Permit holder we know that you are a law abiding citizen, and worried about crime in Tennessee." ... The letter goes on to read that the TSA supports me as a Handgun Permit Holder. I would like to begin my response by saying that I have been a long time supporter of law enforcement, but unfortunatley, at this time I will not be able to support the TSA as a Handgun Carry permit holder.

If I may, I would like to explain my stance. The very first line of your letter to me indicates that you know I am a law abiding citizen, but yet in the attached letter (.pdf) your organization wrote a letter to Speaker Nefiah directly OPPOSING my right to protect my family in a resturaunt that serves alcohol. As a law abiding citizen, I disagree. The more "Gun free" zones there are in this great state, the more opportunities you allow the criminals to victimize the good people.

It is a well known fact that there are not enough officers to be everywhere at every moment, and it is also a fact that the thugs, and criminal element victimize the good folks in a matter of seconds. The TSA has outright shown me that they neither support me, or care enough about the citizens of this state to take a stand and be able to defend themselves, their families, or possibly another against an attack. Instead, they would rather me disarm, leave my gun in a car (where it can get stolen), become a victim, then ask me to support them.

I am very sorry sir, but this is a two way street. Until the TSA shows the law abiding citizens of the state that they TRUELY support them, and trust them as law abiding citizens, I can say that there is a potential that over 300,000 HCP holders may choose the route that my friends, and the pro gun communities I am a member of have. I sincerly hope that the law enforcement agencies and the law abiding HCP holders can continue the build on the common ground, which is to stop criminals from victimizing the great people of this state.

We must remember that the criminals do not follow the law, to a criminal, "No Guns allowed" means "No resistance here"


Thank you for understanding.

Thank You for your time,

Name and address withheld.


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I attached the pdf from LegallyArmed located at: http://www.legallyarmed.com/resource...ffltrhb410.pdf

[canynracer]

BTW, I still have not received a reply. I will continue to hold my breath