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Nashville Police Chief Doesn't Like New Gun Law; His article and my response :)
Topic Started: Jan 22 2008, 05:18 PM (264 Views)
Roxdog
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http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/OPINION01/801200367/1007/MTCN0305

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Quote:
 
Proposal only boosts danger for citizens

By CHIEF RONAL SERPAS


Alcohol and firearms don't mix — period.

Combining the two puts public safety at risk and is not good public policy. That is why chiefs of police throughout Tennessee, as well as many prosecutors, like Nashville's Torry Johnson, and sheriffs, like Mark Luttrell in Memphis, are once again urging our state lawmakers to defeat a proposal that would allow holders of handgun permits to carry weapons into bars and other places that serve alcohol.

It makes absolutely no sense to me to allow people to carry guns into establishments where the potential for alcohol-related or induced brawls is greatest. The potential scenarios are not at all good for Nashville or any of our communities in Tennessee.

For example, a dispute or fight breaks out in a bar. A gun carrier is involved or tries to step in and break up the fight. The gun carrier is disarmed or, worse, the weapon is used and shots are fired in the crowded establishment.

Our police officers receive specific and periodic training on the retention of their guns in critical situations; most citizens with handgun permits do not. Moreover, uniformed Metro police officers carry holsters designed for weapon retention, and those holsters have saved officers and others from serious injury and death. Handgun-permit holders can carry pistols in waistbands, purses, coat pockets, etc., creating the real potential for unauthorized access in a packed barroom.

Drinking restriction unenforceable

Some will argue that the legislation applies only to law-abiding gun carriers who do not drink. It will be extraordinarily difficult to enforce that provision, as people can easily keep firearms out of sight. I fear that passage of this legislation will put honest, law-abiding citizens at increased risk. Passage of this legislation will not be good for Metro police officers, Nashvillians, Tennesseans or our visitors.

Make no mistake: Law enforcement's longstanding opposition to this legislation is rooted entirely in public safety. I am very supportive of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and have no issue with Tennessee's existing law dealing with handgun-carry permits. That law, however, does not need to be expanded to introduce guns to downtown bars or corner taverns.

The untiring work of Nashville's police officers during 2007 resulted in our city's fourth consecutive year of overall crime reduction. Strategies are being put into place to build on our successes. The Police Department will continue, as it has for some time now, to place a major emphasis on interdicting gun violence during the coming year. The legalization of guns in bars is something we simply do not need.

In years past, Gov. Phil Bredesen, House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey and other Tennessee legislators have made thoughtful decisions that have enhanced the safety of neighborhoods from Memphis to Nashville to Mountain City. I have every confidence that same, thoughtful deliberation will occur with this issue and that, despite the strong efforts of special-interest lobbying groups, the current handgun-permit law will be left unchanged.


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Mr. Serpas,

Disarming permit holders that DO NOT consume alcohol while they are a patron in a PRIVATE BUSINESS is fascist- Period.

Its very sad you have so little faith in the citizens of this State. Texas and other patriotic States have the same laws. Where are the statistics on permit holders causing problems with law enforcement in those States? I'd love to see the information you are forming your opinion around. You talk about "interdicting gun violence during the coming year". What the heck does this have to do with law-abiding permit holders? You say you believe permit holders will put "honest, law-abiding citizens" at "increased risk". First: It sounds like you are saying permit holders aren't "honest"? Second: Increased risk of what? Being safe from the ballooning gang activity you and Metro have so little control over?

If "alcohol and firearms don't mix — period." Then will you and your officers be leaving your guns in your cruisers when you enter "downtown bars or corner taverns"? No? Oh...so I guess your assertion only applies to us "civilians", huh? Now I understand.

For every silly hypothetical you cite where a permit holder is disarmed or accidentally shoots someone (but never a police officer....they are incapable of such things, right?) in all those barroom brawls that are epidemic in this city (sarcasm), I can do the same thing. What happens when an ex felon who isn't supposed to have a gun....gets one? Laws prohibit them from owning one....yet they have them. Lots of them. Your silly laws do NOTHING to curb violence. All the information shows that more gun laws= more crime. Period.

Criminals are the people you need to worry about, Mr. Serpas. Please let us "honest, law-abiding citizens" who are actual Tennesseans worry about and defend ourselves. Kindly rethink your illogical position.

[Rox]

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:07 pm


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