HB0962 - Shelby County law enforcement comments

[johnharris]

[jg45]

I just sent the following to our dear sheriff.

Dear Sir,
I was appalled to see you attending the Governor's veto ceremony of HB962, the bill that would allow Handgun Carry Permit holders the opportunity to legally carry their firearm into restaurants that serve alcohol. Your statement "Reasonable people, when they've had a little bit to drink, do silly things, and silly people with firearms can be in a tragic situation. I think it's a bill that's not necessary." shows your ignorance of the content of this bill. The bill clearly does not allow a permit holder to consume alcohol while carrying a firearm. Sir, I am a permit holder who has gone through the training, background checks, and other legal hurdles in order to be able to carry a weapon to protect myself and my family. Sir, will you make it so that your deputies may not carry a weapon into an establishment that is serving alcohol unless it is in the execution of their duties? By your logic there would be no need for them to need a weapon as there would be no criminals there while they are dining and therefore no need to protect themselves or others. In fact, wasn't one of your deputies recently involved with an illegal shooting in an establishment that serves alcohol. I might well need to be armed to protect myself from your deputies as well as the criminal element since law enforcement and criminals are the only ones who would be armed in a restaurant like Applebee's or Macaroni Grill if the law is allowed to stand as it is. I voted for you in the last election, but I will not make that mistake again. I expect the Sheriff I elect to enforce the laws and protect the rights of the citizens, this includes the Second Amendment.

[Springfield.45]

Here is the email I just sent:

Dear Sheriff Luttrell,

I am a conservative gun-owning, gun-carrying taxpayer in Shelby County. I voted for you in the last election, but you have just lost my vote in the next election for lobbying with the governor against the rights of the citizens of Tennessee to make use of their 2nd amendment rights to protect themselves and their families while out to eat. As you well know, this law would not have allowed armed citizens to even drink a drop of alcohol, so you apparently have no concern about our rights to defend ourselves.

I assume you don't think we should be able to protect ourselves and our families while we go to the park either? Because guns and kids don't mix?

Why is it any safer for a law enforcement officer to be in possession of a firearm than a trained citizen who is exercising his rights?

You should be spending your time going after criminals (there are plenty in Shelby County) instead of lobbying against the rights of your voters.

Sincerely,