I want to commend the young people of Nashville, the Tennessee 3, Governor Lee and President Biden for a willingness to start a serious, bi-partisan, public policy conversation about the gun violence epidemic in Tennessee and across America.
When the leading cause of death for American children is gun violence, it's time for change.
When our right to life, our freedom to assemble, and our freedom to be reasonably secure in our person, while in public spaces, is being seriously compromised by those using high-kill capacity assault weapons, it's time for change.
Let me encourage everyone to get involved in this issue and begin voting for politicians willing to try something different to address this major public health crises.
We do not have to accept the status quo on gun violence in America. What we’ve been doing is not working. It’s time for serious change.
Tim Gobble
Former Bradley County Sheriff
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Mr. Gobble,
You mentioned "it's time for serious change", as do most everybody else.
What changes would you propose that would have prevented the bad actors in the recent school and bank shootings from doing their evil deed? What reasonable law would you propose? Give us some useful examples instead of hyperbole.
And stop using "limit magazine capacity" or "ban this type or that type of firearm" because that cat's out of the bag. Pandora's Box has been opened. And as a former sheriff, you surely know a bad actor will procure whatever means necessary to act out their desires....no matter the law or the ban.
I will reiterate....a law does not and will not stop a bad actor with intent. Banning an object does not and will not stop a bad actor from using that object with intent.
As an example, there is a law a felon can't be in possession of a firearm or ammunition. As a former sheriff, can you tell us if that law is/has been effective in keeping felons from possessing? As a citizen who reads a few appellate court briefs, I will tell you, that law is not very effective in preventing. The law is effective on felons who happen to get caught. They are going to jail....again. Preventing though? Not really.
My point is this, a bad actor will do evil things no matter the laws you propose or objects you ban. I believe the Tennessee governor is proposing guards and other security measures in all schools. That's a beginning for your "time for a change".
Phil Snider
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I don’t have the statistics to prove my belief, but personally I believe the leading cause of death among children is actually abortion and/or the COVID “vaccine”.
In my 75 years of life I have never seen nor heard of a “violent gun” just jumping up and shooting anyone. Those shootings have all had some person pull the trigger. I think it is high time we address the real problem concerning people being killed by gunfire and that is the mental condition that causes someone to kill another human being regardless of the weapon of choice, whether it is a gun, knife, blunt object, automobile or anything else. We need to stop blaming the weapon and focus on the real killer, people.
Phil Gillenwater