RepublicansIn Tenn. Introduces Bill Barring Gov't From Seizing Guns During Martial Law

[Median Democrat]

Repubican legislators in Tennessee introduced bills in the state legislature barring the government from seizing guns during martial law. You just have to love Republicans pushing the gun-nut paranoia that has caused right wing nuts to engage in acts of violence. They might as well start cheerleading for another Tim McVeigh.

http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/humphrey/2009/04/gunning-for-votes-voting-for-g.html

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Gunning for Votes; Voting for Gunners
Pro-gun bills generally advanced in legislative doings today - notable examples including measures to make secret the list of folks who have handgun carry permits and to declare that guns cannot be seized even in periods of martial law.

* * *

The notion of sealing permit-holder records, by the way, is a legitimate policy issue. One can reasonably argue both sides (my inclination is to leave them as open records), The martial law bill (HB1778), pushed by House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada, comes across as meaningless and inconsequential - albeit harmless - grandstanding.

As Casada explained to the sub, the Legislature last year passed a bill declaring that the governor cannot seize guns during a "state of emergency." OK, fine. A state of emergency is, for example, when a tornado blew through and caused a lot of damage.

But they regretfully forgot about "martial law" situations. Meaning a governor - or the president or whoever - could still take a gun away from someone if there's martial law in place.

Actually, when martial law is imposed, things have really gotten really, really bad -- we're talking Civil War occupation situation -- and the military is in control of everything, with basic rights suspended. In such a dramatic situation, an Army officer can order a city evacuated, homes destroyed, people arrested without the "probable cause" required under normal constitutional situations, and so on.

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[firedupdem]

1. Are all of them absolutely nuts? This is the craziness they get

paid to play around with during the day? Unbelievable.

[Cha]

2. Why didn't they come up with this when bushits

were in power and acting like fucking dick-tators?

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. LOL!

This is so ludicrous as to be beyond parody.

[IADEMO2004]

4. Republicans get stiffies defending guns

Defending human rights is for Sissies

[Canuckistanian]

5. If things ever came to be so bad that martial law is declared

I don't think that a piece of paper in Nashville is going to make any difference...

[rcrush]

6. Yeah really

I mean if they declare marshall law I'm sure the army isnt gonna give a shit about your rights.

[Canuckistanian]

10. The Army has ONE priority during martial law

That is, to maintain peace and squelch dissent at any cost.

Ask any Pakistani how "martial law" worked out for them.

[ShortnFiery]

7. Paranoia is gonna destroy ya.

That's so damn sad. :crazy:

[Thrill]

8. These people can't be this Dumb

.

[asjr]

9. You might not believe it but there

are some smart people in TN. We hide them in the attic.

[Clio the Leo]

11. Well as a resident of TN, that certainly makes me feel better about life in genral.

.... or not.

Idiots.

[TheKentuckian]

12. I'm all for watering down martial law

I don't see how it would supersede Federal authority and I wouldn't worry too much about a Governor being that ballsy. Still, whatever wild goose chases keep the Republicans busy are a good thing. They can bolster gun rights that aren't going anywhere anyway and play detective on birth certificates forever for all I care. Keeps them out of trouble. Republiscum don't do well with idle hands and tend to start trying to get up everyone else's ass.

[DBoon]

13. and they think WE are paranoid about NSA wiretaps

worrying about weapon confiscation during martial law is like worrying about an asteroid hitting the earth

[Median Democrat]

14. No, Its Like Trying To Adopt A Gas Subsidy InThe Event Of An Asteroid Strike

If the contingency occurs, you are already in a world of hurt.

[JohnnyBoots]

15. Up next ...a bill banning people from wearing sandals during the Rapture.

[benEzra]

16. Good. You think many progressives oppose that?

The chief of police of New Orleans thought he was operating under martial-law rules in post-Katrina New Orleans, and directed that guns be confiscated from homeowners (in direct violation of state law, as it turns out). A few DEA, California Highway Patrol, and Oklahoma National Guard units were actually clueless enough to carry out that directive for a while, but fortunately it was stopped before things got bad.

The thing is, even if this proposal is a symbolic move, it is one more step toward repairing the trust between citizens and the authorities that was shattered during the Katrina debacle. In a disaster, the last thing you want is for people to be hiding from the authorities out of fear of a Katrina-style crackdown.