Jerry Summers
Our ever vigilant, understaffed and underpaid “Boys in Blue”(and ladies and ?) are always on the lookout for law breakers that will allow the Gig City to maintain an actual “crime free environment” in spite of those false polls conducted by an out-of-town firm.
A new service provided by the editors of this publication of a selective list to the public police reports, filed by our on duty peacemakers, often provides some interesting historical facts that are applicable to the events of today.
It was recently reported that a young man lost his BB gun through a confiscation action by a couple of Chattanooga’s finest because it did not have an orange-tipped barrel. The ambitions of any youngster during the 1930s forward depicted by the continuing re-runs of “A Christmas Story” starring Darren McGavin and his young son’s quest to become armed over the protective objections of his mother because she believed the lad “would shoot his eye out!”, is on cable television.
How many millions of youngsters got their start to becoming card carrying members of the NRA by acquiring the prototype of the former television cowboy, Red Ryder (R.R.) is unknown.
A review of the current “FindLaw- B.B. guns” website reveals a wide variety of legal and illegal practices and potential penalties that should be reviewed by any loving parent before exposing their offspring to both criminal and civil liability consequences.
(Federal and state law (including Tennessee) interpretations are beyond the scope of this article.)
Presently the deadly weapon is lodged in the safe and secure room in the Property Section of the Chattanooga Police Department.
The individual decision to tell Santa Claus to take the B.B. (ball bearing or bullet ball) weapon off of his sleigh on the night of December 24, 2022 is left to the potential wisdom of Mom and Dad, etc.
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You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com)