My NRA-organized Truth About Gun-Owners survey showed up in my mailbox yesterday, and here are the questions along with my responses:
1) Right now, Tennessee is among the 40 states that respect the right of law-abiding citizens to obtain a permit and carry a concealed firearm for self-defense. Do you support preserving Right-to-Carry for Tennessee citizens?
Yes. Duh. Self-defense is a Constitutionally-protected natural right, and right-to-carry laws only serve to support that right. Unlike some folks, I tend to come down on the side of rights…
2) Some states now ration firearms – allowing the stat government to arbitrarily dictate how many firearms can be purchased by law-abiding citizens. Would you support a firearms rationing law for Tennessee citizens?
No. Furthermore, I am still waiting for someone, anyone, to present a reasonable argument supporting the theory that these laws actually fight crime (which, after all, is their supposed purpose…), rather than simply inconvenience law-abiding citizens.
3) Tennessee does not currently require gun owners to obtain a government license before purchasing a handgun. Do you agree with those who say a license should be required for a handgun purchase?
No. Why should handguns be treated any differently than long guns? Seems to me that either one would be pretty effective at terminating someone’s life, although long-guns probably get the advantage if you are having to use them as blunt-force instruments. Furthermore, explain to me exactly why I should need a government license to exercise a Constitutionally-protected right? Here is a better idea – institute mandatory firearm safety education in schools, just like driver’s ed and home ec (do they even still have home ec?). Younger children learn to go get an adult if they see a firearm, and older ones learn the four basic rules and proper handling/storage. Education, safety, and training, all without licensing – what is wrong with that? (Yes, I know, when it comes to licensing, neither education, nor safety, nor training are the point.)
4) Current Tennessee law prevents local governments from enacting their own “patchwork quilt” of conflicting gun control laws. Do you support this provision which is designed to ensure uniform firearm laws in your state?
Yes. Tennessee counties are not exactly what I would refer to as “large”, and some of the cities and towns here are astonishingly small. Simply going to the mall can result in you passing through three or four different local governmental entities, and trying to keep up with each one’s individual firearm-related laws would simply be impossible – God forbid if you were to ever travel. Unfortunately, the legislation that allowed background-checked, trained, and licensed law-abiding citizens to carry firearms in parks allowed for such “quilt”-making, which is why I firmly support pre-empting that particular law as well.
5) Would you support a law to prevent your employer from firing you from your job if, during working hours, you keep a lawfully-owned firearm in your locked vehicle in a parking lot open to the public?
No. What, not the answer you were expecting? The contract I am currently working under has a clause in it that basically says, “Either side of this contract may terminate your employment at any time they desire, for any reason they desire,” and I am ok with that, otherwise I would not have signed the contract. Now, it is none of my employer’s business what happens in my private conveyance so long as that vehicle is not on my employer’s property, but if they want to terminate me for whatever reason they deem appropriate, well, that is the contract I signed. I see no reason for the government to exert more control over private contracts between individuals and corporate entities.
6) The gun-ban lobby is pressuring your state legislature to ban certain firearms based purely on the way they look. Do you support this gun-ban proposal?
No. Duh. The original “assault weapon” ban was based purely on cosmetic features as well, and even research funded by the Clinton administration could find no substantiative evidence that the AWB impacted crime at all. That said, I had no idea that TN legislators were even considering an AWB-like ban… anyone have any specifics on this?
7) Gun-banners want your state legislators to enact a “microstamping” aw making certain firearms illegal if they cannot imprint a serial number or other unique marking on every cartridge fired. Effectively, this proposal would ban every handgun now sold in your state. Do you support this proposal?
No. Duh. I opposed a similar law when it was being considered in Kalifornistan (the law eventually was passed), and all scientific evidence points to the ineffective and easily-bypassed nature of the microstamping technology. As with lots of “reasonable” things hoplophobes suggest “for the good of society/the children”, microstamping is nothing more than a back-door attempt at a ban on handguns, especially considering how expensive the microstamping hardware is (hardly unsurprising, given its proprietary nature).
Tennessee’s “No-Net-Loss” law protects our hunting heritage for future generations by ensuring that the amount of public land available for hunting will never decrease due to development or restrictions. Do you support this law?
Yes. Public land is there for everyone, including hunters… Even my non-hunting arse can understand that.
9) Do you support Tennessee’s “Castle Doctrine” law that protects your right to self-defense, and prevents criminals who are injured while committing a crime from suing their victims?
Yes and yes. First off, this law removes the “duty to retreat” we Tennesseeans used to have when confronted with a criminal intent on inflicting grievous harm to us. Now, so long as we are in a location we are legally permitted to be, and so long as we are in fear of bodily harm or worse, we may legally use force (including deadly force) without having to look for and use an avenue of escape first. Second, the “castle doctrine” part of the law states that one’s place of residence is now specifically protected from illegal tresspassing and violent attack, meaning that a person may have the legal right to use deadly force to defend that location, and/or anyone in that location, from violent attack of an illegal intrusion that may lead to a violent attack. Third and finally, the law provides civil immunity to a victim who legally defended himself from a criminal attack, meaning that if you happen to stop someone from raping you by killin him, the rapist’s estate cannot sue you for whatever reason they might want. So, explain to me how any of that is a bad thing?
10) Tennessee law prohibits government authorities from confiscating firearms from law-abiding citizens in times of emergency. Do you support this law to prevent door-to-door gun seizures in the event of a disaster?
Yes. Duh. “Disasters” are just one of the many kinds of events for which I purchased my firearms, especially given that my sole responsibility during those times is to keep me and mine safe. Futhermore, I think Katrina adequately demonstrated the horrors of disarming a populace during a disaster. ‘Nuff said.
Easy enough. Maybe my representatives will pay attention.
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