I believe gun deaths and violence should be a leading issue in the upcoming campaigns.
Recently I attended a 9-11 memorial service and heard stories of the horrible deaths of our citizens. I did think of the fact that more Americans are killed each month by guns in America than the 2,900 lost in 9-11. In 2023 we lost more than 4,300 to gun violence.
America has a tremendous problem. America has always been able to solve its problems and needs to now. The main purpose in our preamble to the Constitution is to keep its citizens safe.
While at the 9-11 memorial I was with many political leaders. I know most of them and they are all good, patriotic people who are deeply concerned with their country and community. However somehow on this issue of gun violence we have lost our way.
I recently heard Riley Gaines speak on another issue and she made the statement, "How is this happening? How did we get here?"
I think the answer on both accounts is we have ignored the problem. We should be talking about the problems of gun violence and how to fix it. Have these candidates on both sides give their opinions.
This is not a political issue, it’s a crime prevention issue.
Start with the premise that good people should have the right to a weapon, but admit that there are many others that should not. I have big concerns that our Legislature up till now has pretty much ignored the gun violence and instead has passed pro-gun laws at the encouragement of lobbyists for the gun industry. Some of those are the open carry law (which police hate); the silencer law; and the most recent threat to withhold money to the city of Memphis because they were trying to pass laws to restrict the easy access to guns.
It seems they are controlled by a small group, led by the leaders of both the House and Senate. They make excuses like it’s mental illness or the internet that causes all this but even though some of that is true nothing could happen without the weapon.
They also say that’s it’s the Illegal aliens that cause these shooting crimes when in truth it’s our citizens. All the school shootings, the country music festival; the night club shootings and mall shootings have all been done by American citizens. American citizens who should not have easy access to these high powered automatic weapons that shoot many rounds. We should discuss why are machine guns are illegal to possess but AKs are not.
In Tennessee the violence has been by citizens who should had never had easy access to these weapons. The Nashville school shooting where the killer was able to go to five different stores and purchase seven automatic weapons without a background check. The young lady in the Nashville park and the nurse shot in her car, both by people who should have never been able to possess a gun. And locally, the young Baylor grad gunned down on our streets by a convicted felon living in free government housing.
We have lost our way and each of these candidates need to answer, will you take gun PAC money contributions? Will you support background checks? Red flag laws? Laws that will restrict the possession of high powered weapons? Will you agree to discuss these issues on the Legislative floor?
Some politicians have simply said I support the 2nd Amendment. That’s a cop out. We all do but all amendments have limitations. Free speech and freedom of expression. Their freedom ends where our citizens right to live peacefully begins.
So it is my hope that communities and the press will ask these questions to the candidates and vote according to the answers.
Russell Bean
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On the subject of gun violence being a campaign issue there are many factors as to why we have the levels of gun crime that we are seeing. One of the most glaring statistic is the revolving door for criminals who receive minimum punishment for their crime and do not fear jail sentences knowing they can plea down to lower levels and be free in short time for even the most heinous of crimes.
If you don’t believe it just follow the arrest reports right here in Chattanooga. Some of these folks are well beyond repeated offenders. Felons, drug dealers and others with guns over and over again.
All the kids recently making the 20+ school threats need to spend a few years in a juvenile prison, not a slap on the wrist and go back to mommy. I don’t care if they are 12, 14 or whatever as a minor. With the judicial system so lax it’s no wonder why crime and shootings are as they are.
Also, Mr. Bean stated that the Nashville shooter obtained multiple weapons without a background check. I do not believe that for one minute. I have never, nor do I know anyone, who has purchased any pistol or rifle from a dealer without a background check in the state of Tennessee. Any firearms dealer who did not comply with the requirements of a background check would be out of business or at least in serious trouble with the ATF.
The second amendment was not created for hunting but to protect our citizens from a tyrannical government. Restrictions on weapons are plenty already as only licensed individuals can own a fully automatic machine gun and other weapons of war as they are called. What is wrong with our country are the lunatics that use a gun for violence not the gun. Using that logic we should blame the automobile for drunk driving.
Memphis is one of the most dangerous cities in America and due to the leadership in that city and county surrounding Memphis there is the problem with Memphis. Much of the problem is in reality the breakdown of society and the family. When I was growing up we had guns in our trucks at school and no one ever got shot. How long ago has it been now since schools banned Bible classes? With all the lack of morals and respect in today’s society, no wonder why there is gun violence.
Criminals do not fear the law and these deranged youth mass shooters know they will have their short lived day of fame.
Arch Ron Tinker
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I wish we would stop referring to violence where guns are involved as gun violence. Guns cannot commit any crime/violence. It takes a person using the gun to commit the crime/violence. Remember that the first recorded murder was committed with a rock.
I have a plethora of respect for Russell Bean and the fine job he did as a judge for the City Court of Chattanooga. He was very fair because he knew the law and followed it. That said, he should also know that we cannot legislate morality, nor enforce all immorality. The deterioration of the family, as well as man's propensity for "self-satisfaction" is the root cause of the problem.
My goodness, just yesterday, in this publication, the city Policy Department told us that most of the violent crimes are being committed by the bloods and the crips, and where they are located. They don't walk into a gun store, as I would, and purchase a gun. In fact, most of the guns they use are stolen. Wisdom needs to be the order of the day, not more legislation.
The preamble of our Constitution is not "law", rather an enacting document, written by the framers of our Constitution, to explain why we are enacting a Constitution. The preamble alone has no teeth, rather it explains that "We the People" have the teeth and the Constitution provides a way for the states to be united under one form, along with its three branches, as the Constitution is concerned. The framers knew that it would take only 9 states to ratify the Constitution, so the preamble was included as a setup.
It may be of interest to know that the preamble was not written first, but the framers knew that the states would need a "Cliffs Notes" version to lay out its purpose.
We have a good state legislature, and they work hard to provide for this state. That said, they will never be able to solve the problem of immorality. That starts with each of us and our homes.
J. Pat Williams