TVA parks last holdout against lawful carry

Last February, a Federal law went into effect that allowed handgun carry in National Parks. This law requires that the National Parks conform to state laws in the state(s) the parks are located in. For example, if the park is located in Tennessee, the park conforms to Tennessee law; if in North Carolina, the park conforms to North Carolina.

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, near Knoxville, straddles the line, and is in both Tennessee and North Carolina. Now, as a result of the Federal law, and a Tennessee law passed last year, people with Tennessee carry permits (or permits from other states, which are recognized by Tennessee) are able to carry in the Smokies. See related story HERE.

The Tennessee Parks Carry law that the Federal law conforms to allows for carry in state, county, and city parks, provided the local governments do not opt out. (In the case of Knoxville, there is local prohibitive ordinance that dates to 1962 that was grandfathered in last year. I'm guessing it was a Jim Crow law; and the Knoxville City council decided to keep it in effect.)

As it stands now, National Forests (part of the U. S. Department of Agriculture) have long been neutral towards firearms. National Parks are now on board, perhaps reluctantly recognizing the Second Amendment. But the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) still posts their properties against lawful handgun carry. . . .

In an effort to find out if there are any plans at TVA to move towards recognizing the Right to Carry, as enumerated in the Bill of Rights, and affirmed by the Supreme Court, I queried TVA:

tvainfo@tva.gov
Tue, Sep 21, 2010
subject    Handgun Carry Permits  
  
In February, A law went into effect requiring National Parks to conform to state laws for parks, allowing those with Handgun Carry Permits to carry their defensive firearm in the National Parks.

Does TVA follow the same procedure? If not, is there any plan to? Is this being looked at?

Thanks,

Liston Matthews
Knoxville

I got this reply from TVA:

Fri, Sep 24, 2010
subject    Handgun Carry Permits

Mr. Matthews

Thank you for your inquiry.  TVA is aware of the laws affecting National Parks and firearms.  Currently unless otherwise posted, possession and use of firearms and other weapons is permissible subject to all applicable state regulations on TVA land.  TVA doesn't allow hunting or the possession of firearms at developed recreation areas (campgrounds, picnic and boat launch areas), or power plant and hydro electric dam reservations.  At this time there are no proposed changes to TVA rules involving these developed areas.

Phyllis Wissel
TVA Environmental Information Center
800-882-5263

Seeing that there are "no proposed changes" to TVA rules, I asked the following of TVA:

Fri, Sep 24, 2010
subject    Re: Handgun Carry Permits
  
So, are you saying that as far as TVA is concerned, The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for personal defense, as affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States in the Heller and McDonald cases, does not apply in campgrounds, picnic, and boat launch areas?

Does TVA keep TVA police officers posted at these areas to provide for the security of citizens that your policy disarms?

I would appreciate an answer to both these questions.

Thank you,

Liston Matthews

If and when I get a reply, I will post it here. It seems unconscionable to me that this Government Bureaucracy continues to disarm law-abiding citizens, in view of the recent Supreme Court decisions.
What do you think?

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Justice Clarence Thomas visits University of Tennessee

Official photo from the public domain

Justice Clarence Thomas is visiting Knoxville and the University of Tennessee this week. Thomas judged a moot court at UT Law School, and is attending the UT vs. Florida football game today. For more on his visit see Matt Lakin's News-Sentinal column here.

Thomas was the sole justice of the Supreme Court to apply the Privileges and Immunities Clause to the McDonald case earlier this year, writing a concurring opinion agreeing with the majority.

Thomas believes in the original intent of the Constitution, as has been seen in his votes and opinions. The McDonald case was a landmark case argued by attorney Alan Gura on behalf of Otis McDonald of Chicago.

This suit was supported by Alan Gottlieb and the Second Amendment Foundation, which is "Winning firearms freedom one lawsuit at a time."

The McDonald case is important to Tennesseeans because it "incorporates" the Second Amendment to all state and local governments.

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Save ten bucks. Join NRA or renew here for only $25.00.

Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

America at the Crossroads

I went to a great service tonight at Grace on Western Avenue. It was the first in a three part series titles America at the Crossroads. We meet again tomorrow at Wallace Memorial, then Tuesday at Concord.

America's problems won't be solved at the White House or the State House, but at the Church House, when God's people humble ourselves, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. Only then will he heal our land.

Come join us the next two nights if you live within driving distance of Knoxville.

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Bruce Pearl

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."

That's what my mama told me.

If Coach Bruce Pearl's mama told him, I guess he forgot. To the tune of two million bucks. No silence about that one.

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Assault on the Second Amendment

All the way back to the Persians telling the Spartans to lay down their arms, governments have attempted to disarm people. The Spartan's reply was Molon Labe (Come and Take Them). Joseph Jarret, Knox County Law Director began his excellent presentation to the Knoxville Chapter of the Tennessee Firearms Association (TFA), with a reference to this historic battle of Thermopylae.

Thus began Jarret's discussion on the assault on the Second Amendment, and the two major views of the Second Amendment, the individual view, like free speech and the collectivist view.
He noted that many politicians and judges have held to the collectivist view.

Joseph G. Jarret

Jarret spoke of the historic support for the individual view, going back to the Anglo-Saxon requirement to bear arms for militia service. He noted that even today, Switzerland has virtually no violent crime, and that most Swiss have a military issue firearm in the home.

He referenced Great Britain, noting that the English got a Bill of Rights in 1689. Then in 1997, Britain's Firearms Act virtually disarmed all British subjects, yet three million illegal guns have flooded the island nation since then. (Let me see . . . American prohibitions on alcohol did not work well either.) Jarret said that the city of Manchester, England, is now called Gunchester.

Jarret noted that there is 'fear and loathing' of firearms in the Beltway. The latest example of this is the Obama Administration's ban on importation of M1 Garand rifles and M1 Carbines from South Korea. Their fear is that these guns might fall into the wrong hands. (Never mind that one mail order a Garand directly from the Government for as little as $495.00 + Shipping)

Jarret also spoke briefly about the McDonald v Chicago case, one of the most important Second Amendment cases ever. He points to multiple lawsuits around the nation which will over time restore more and more of the Second Amendment.


Jarret was asked whether or not there had been any problems with 'Parks Carry' by permitted individuals since it was voted in last year by the Knox County Commission. He said that the sheriff is a client of his (as are the county mayor and commission) and there have been no problems at all.

He was also asked about the current ban on carry in the Knox County libraries. He said this could be addressed by the new library director and mayor. (Perhaps there should be some citizen contact made with these public servants.)

Photos by Liston Matthews

  

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Veterans beware

Tennessee is known as the Volunteer State, and Knoxville has had its share of men and women go off to war for Flag and Country.

Now we learn from Fort Smith Gun Rights Examiner Steve Jones of a veteran who has administratively lost his Second Amendment rights.

This veteran, Wayne Irelan, was declared, with the stroke of a bureaucratic pen, a prohibited person. This means that Irelan may no longer own or possess a firearm, under Federal law.

It gets worse. No one who lives in his home may own or possess a firearm there. So, by extension, his family members have become prohibited persons, thus denied the best tool to provide for their own defense against unlawful aggression.

So, veterans, if you find yourself being asked by the Veterans Administration to sign any documents assigning anyone as a guardian of your checkbook or anything else . . . BEWARE!

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Save ten bucks. Join NRA or renew here for only $25.00.

Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.