Tennessee Attorney General says State can prohibit wearing of arms in public

[kwikrnu]

I have a lawsuit pending against the State of Tennessee regarding the carry of firearms. My handgun permit was permanently suspended and the current law prohibits the carry of loaded guns w/o a permit. Loaded is considered the carry or storage of a gun in the vicinity of ammunition. I received a brief from the AG today. In the brief he says, "The Andrews court further explained that prohibitions against wearing arms in public places are permissible." Of course the decision said no such thing, but they wish it did.

Here is the link to the brief:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B4xDZlk5vthcYjE2NDY5YzktZmNjOS00YzUzLThiZmItOWZiN2NhMGQyZWIy&hl=en

[kwikrnu]

Sorry, this forum is difficult to navigate.

[Cyber Liberty]

That’s pretty interesting. I wonder how many places he’s shopped this story?

[Apogee]

Tennessee, unlike its more civilized and citizen-trusting neighbours, requires a permit to carry a handgun, period. There is no open carry without a license, no permission to carry other weapons (e.g. knives of longer than 4 inch length blades).
Many other states specify in their constitutions that the right to keep and bear arms does not limit the legislature’s ability to regulate concealed carry, and allow for open carry or vehicular open carry. Tennessee will get its pound of flesh, or cash, either way.
What would Davy Crockett think?

[Vendome]

Funny. My dad introduced me and my brother to Fess Parker and I have enjoyed staying at the Fess Parker Inn for years, while drinking his wine which they have in the rooms.

Sadly, Davy Crockett passed away this year.

[ctdonath2]

It was also suspended because I carried a blackpowder navy pistol in my hand in an old slave town.

Handgun "carry" is commonly understood to mean "in an openly visible holster". What you admit doing is a lot closer to "brandishing", which is a justified offense just about anywhere your life is not in immediate danger or otherwise not legally actively seeking to shoot something.

Yeah, if you're wandering around with pistol in hand (or, as referenced elsewhere, AK-47 pistol altered to look like a toy) and generally understood by all (yourself included) to be doing so for the purpose of attracting attention, then you're not going to get a lot of support around here.

[marktwain]

If this isn't a firearms/2nd Amendment issue, I guess I do not know what is.

[marktwain]

“Real nut job this one.”

Kwikrnu is doing some heavy lifting for us. This sounds a lot like a personal attack.

[marktwain]

“Yeah, if you're wandering around with pistol in hand (or, as referenced elsewhere, AK-47 pistol altered to look like a toy) and generally understood by all (yourself included) to be doing so for the purpose of attracting attention, then you're not going to get a lot of support around here.”

The law in the town referenced required the pistol to be carried “in the hand”. Kwikrnu was showcasing the absurdity of the law. If he had actually broken any law, it would be all over the net. He hasn't. We have way too many laws. I applaud someone who is willing to take a little risk to point out absurd laws.