The gun-loving horde called the National Rifle Association descended on Nashville, Tennessee, this week. Ironically, loaded guns were not allowed within the venue - can you say hypocrites? They could have gone to Texas or some state where everyone could open carry everywhere, but they are concerned for their own safety. Thus, the NRA Convention was held in a "Gun Free Zone" which they say they are against.
It's probably a good thing - these gun nuts always end up shooting themselves in the foot, and they know it.
My state of Tennessee has a love-hate relationship with guns. Clearly they are part of our heritage, from Davy Crockett to Sergeant York. But now that the true crazies have taken over the Tennessee Legislature, and hunting has become more popular than Bible-thumping, the NRA has more political pull than the Southern Baptist Convention.
However, not everyone is thrilled with the NRA - like me, for instance! I don't own any guns, and never will. And my father was a veteran who won badges for marksmanship, but amazingly he came home from WWII and never saw a need to shoot anybody. My Tennessee ancestors probably shot squirrels to make gravy, but that was for survival. I think they liked ham and fried chicken better...
But anyway, let's talk about our Governor, Bill Haslam, who is more of a bird-watcher than a hunter. While it's true that he just signed an ill-thought-out bill allowing "Guns in Parking Lots" (because people have guns in their cars anyway - so just give up on that), he sometimes ignores politics and vetoes crazy bills sent to him by the TN Legislature.
The latest is a "Guns in Parks" bill that was pushed through just in time for the NRA goons to arrive in town. The bill would also allow guns within the public buildings of the state capital. That's getting too close to home for Haslam, and he probably has too many enemies in the Tea Party to feel comfortable if they are packing heat - there could be one of those "accidental shootings" that responsible gun owners cause. And I truly believe he knows that parks are supposed to be peaceful places for families and not gun-fights between rednecks. We are a tourist state, and Nashville is a tourist city, end of story.
NEW: TN Gov. @BillHaslam signs "guns in parking lots" bill: http://t.co/Qc6nHUmvfs pic.twitter.com/iw9i7TKC82
— WTVC NewsChannel 9 (@newschannelnine) April 8, 2015
#Tennessee Wants To Make It Easier To Carry #GunsInParks Days Before #NRA Convention http://t.co/yXZL8A9XVX @HuffPostPol
StupidStupidStupid
— Angie (@AngAngieAngela) April 8, 2015
A surprising amendment to the #GunsInParks bill would allow guns at the Capitol. It passed the Senate today. pic.twitter.com/zMjb12KWBl
— Sky Arnold (@SkyArnold1) April 1, 2015
Gov. Bill Haslam says he has ‘major concerns’ with amended guns in parks bill: http://t.co/JySja1xa1q pic.twitter.com/o9NKapCofv
— WKRN (@WKRN) April 6, 2015
NRA has no time for TN Gov @billhaslam as speaker at its Nashville convention http://t.co/hCXFHP3Kny No room at the @NRA freak show
— Knox County Dems (@KnoxDems) April 6, 2015
I'm thrilled that the NRA doesn't like Bill Haslam, and I think he will listen to cooler heads and veto the "Guns in Parks" bill.
But the convention gave many of the GOP 2016 hopefuls a forum, sort of a mini-GOP convention, where they were assured of a warm welcome. Yes, unlike the real world. The only two not invited were Rand Paul and Chris Christie.
Credit: Clay Bennett / Chattanooga Times Free Press
#NRA #GunLobby #GunSense #MomsDemand pic.twitter.com/lnVaslmaGH
— Brian Paul Stuart (@BrianPaulStuart) April 11, 2015
#NRA bans working guns from being displayed at NRA-ILA Leadership Forum http://t.co/K2ZIA8uNXt #UniteBlue @UniteBlue pic.twitter.com/OlAOtn7avL
— Anthony B. (@PoliticalAnt) April 10, 2015
To NRA, @tedcruz touts his work defeating gun control after Sandy Hook school massacre @TexasTribAbby http://t.co/HTDLrcxLGI #2016 #NRAAM
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) April 11, 2015
A simple message... #ComeAndTakeIt! Stand with us at http://t.co/PVsiCtsMqj #NRAAM pic.twitter.com/Al6qZYDSAS
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 11, 2015
“@BobbyJindal: No better place to pick out a new shotgun than at #NRAAM. pic.twitter.com/nvc6s1cKcA”
@jhnicholson4 - you agree?
— Paula (@BeenoToo) April 11, 2015
Rick Santorum says his wife doesn't want flowers for her birthday. "She wants ammo." #nraam
— Blake Farmer (@flakebarmer) April 10, 2015
If you remember, @RickSantorum won TN in 2012 primary: http://t.co/2Jv4NVXe9X
#NRAAM pic.twitter.com/42HwEgpkso
— Dave Boucher (@Dave_Boucher1) April 10, 2015
.@realDonaldTrump tells @NRA crowd presidential decision will "surprise" http://t.co/uoig5wyvQw #NRAAM pic.twitter.com/uVWqX0N5lH
— The Tennessean (@Tennessean) April 10, 2015
.@JebBush defends the controversial "stand your ground" laws at the annual @NRA meeting in Nashville http://t.co/SBcBYEgrOO
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 11, 2015
Jeb Bush bashed AG Eric Holder before gun advocates at NRA convention: http://t.co/KKRW2wMVtZ pic.twitter.com/Nk0s2Ob08f
— The Hill (@thehill) April 10, 2015
Scott Walker touts 'freedom', jabs Obama in #NRA speech http://t.co/iZkGdUNt8P pic.twitter.com/R1WoPR8s2H
— The Tennessean (@Tennessean) April 10, 2015
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee on #NRAAM stage now. Talking about the Holocaust; "fierce reminder" of unchecked government pic.twitter.com/CXTSIar4fp
— Dave Boucher (@Dave_Boucher1) April 10, 2015
.@marcorubio blasts @barackobama in @NRA speech, says he'll announce soon on candidacy: http://t.co/HEjPRaek0A #NRAAM pic.twitter.com/RfFwBdbzP2
— The Tennessean (@Tennessean) April 10, 2015
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