Joe Kirkpatrick, candidate for Governor of Tennessee, has answered the gun control questions posed by the Commercial Appeal to the other gubernatorial candidates. What's more - he has done so directly to the Usagi Blog!
Since Mr. Kirkpatrick has answered these questions as a response to my previous post, I would like to put them up here, completely in context, for my readers to see. Following are his responses to the questions. For the sake of clarity, I have interjected the questions so as to improve the flow and understandability of the responses.
1. A Nashville judge has struck down as “unconstitutionally vague” the law passed by the legislature in 2009 allowing people with handgun-carry permits to take guns into places serving alcohol. The bill’s sponsors say they will ask the legislature to approve a new version. Do you support or oppose a bill to allow handgun-carry permit holders to take guns into places that serve alcohol?
A - I support it although I consider it unnecessary and so long as it expresses the qualification I mentioned about private property rights of the establishment owner.
2. The legislature approved a law last year allowing handgun-carry permit holders to take guns into city, county and state parks — but it gave city councils and county commissions authority to designate one, some or all of their parks off limits to guns. Gun advocacy groups and some legislators say they will ask the legislature to remove the authority of local governments to “opt out” of the law — in effect, opening all local parks to guns whether local governments want that or not. First, do you support or oppose repealing the law that allows guns in state parks? And do you support or oppose removing the “opt-out” provision for local government?
A- One cannot opt-out of the 2nd amendment. So, I oppose the former.
3. The legislature last year delayed action until 2010 on a bill requiring businesses to allow employees with handgun-carry permits to take their guns onto the company’s parking lot if the gun is left in the employee’s locked car. Gun advocacy groups support the bill. A coalition of business groups opposed the bill. Do you support or oppose the bill?
A - I believe carry permits are unconstitutional, a violation of privacy, and an illegal tax.
4. The legislature also enacted the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act last year, which declares that guns made in Tennessee and sold in Tennessee are not subject to federal firearms laws and regulations. In July, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) notified all federally-licensed firearms dealers in Tennessee that federal law supersedes the new state law and all existing federal laws and regulations applying to gun sales are unchanged in Tennessee. Do you support or oppose the Firearms Freedom Act? Should the act be repealed?
A - Yes, I also believe the 11th Amendment, which was upheld most recently, denies the US Government the recourse to prevent "nullification" of ANY extra-Constitutional federal mandate. We just have to be willing as a state to refuse any funding contract that waives the larger right.
5. A bill that would close public access to all information in public records identifying people with handgun-carry permits failed in the legislature by one vote this year. Its supporters say they will ask the General Assembly to try again. Do you support or oppose closing these records to the public? Do you support or oppose a bill that would prohibit Internet posting of searchable databases of gun-carry permit holders?
A - I adamantly support sealing any records which were already illegally obtained. In fact, I would call for the destruction of any such databases.
6. Bills have been filed in the legislature allowing handgun carry permit holders to carry their guns on college and university campuses. Do you support or oppose this bill?
A - State universities must by law allow them; private universities have the choice to allow or forbid them.
7. Acting on a request by a member of the Tennessee legislature, the state attorney general issued an advisory opinion in October that says a landlord can prohibit tenants — including those with handgun-carry permits — from possessing firearms within their leased premises. Do you support or oppose changing the law so that landlords could not prohibit tenants from possessing firearms in leased property?
A - Renting or leasing accords the rights of private property to the tenant, any landlord who wishes otherwise must plainly so state that any such tenant must waive those rights in order to enter into a contract.
8. Do you support or oppose stronger penalties in state law — including mandatory jail terms — for people convicted of crimes involving guns?
A - No, crime is crime, a pencil qualifies as a deadly weapon if you shove it into someone's eye socket, does it not?
9. Are there other changes in state gun laws that you advocate?
A - I would repeal them all, quite frankly and refer to the US Constitution.
The general laws of the tenant are pay rent on time, properly dispose of garbage, take of the property, the tenant can sublease a property to another person but with written permission of the landlord. The landlord can give notice in written when ownership of the property is transferred. He should not follow any discrimination policy. To avoid issues all written work should be for all repairs.
ReplyDeleteThe San Francisco tenant’s rights legal representative seethe about issues that drive tenants passionate. The entertaining, instructive commentary about tenant rights and tenant law with a comprehensive listing of tenant resources in California.
Ok - I agree with all of that Tenant stuff... just don't know how this applies to the post?
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