Fight over Tennessee’s “Employee Safe Commute bill” provides food for thought for Ohio legislators and business-owners

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The following was prepared by the Tennessee Firearms Association’s Legislative Action Committee.

Some permit holders and firearms owners are giving pause to support of the Employee Safe Commute bill (SB3002 HB 3560). They are asking questions that some in the legislature who are true conservatives are concerned with. These legislators are not the ones opposing this legislation because Big Business has told them to do so – those legislators are simply doing nothing more than selling their votes for corporate money. Aside from those who sell their services for money, there are some legislators who are truly valuing both rights and trying to figure out how to address the Employee Safe Commute bill. I am in that last camp but I have made my decision.

First, the issue was framed by Senator Jackson 3 years ago not as one right “trumping” another but the balancing of important rights which is something that must happen even with constitutional rights. Take for example the limits on the First Amendment right of free speech which, although broad, is not absolute as we all know from the example of yelling fire in an auditorium full of people.

Now, let’s examine the current source and status of the rights we are discussing.

Tony Stewart to chair National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration

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Springfield, MO–Leading NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver/owner Tony Stewart knows a thing or two about winning championships. As the driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Stewart has won 12 driving championships, including three Sprint Cup Series titles, in a career spanning more than three decades.

Stewart is a champion off the racetrack as much as he is on, and has been recognized for his philanthropic efforts via his Tony Stewart Foundation, which raises funds for distribution to three specific groups – chronically ill children, drivers injured in motorsports activities, and organizations dedicated to the protection of various animal species. This year, Stewart is a champion for another cause as he has been named honorary chairman of National Hunting and Fishing Day 2012.

Congress established National Hunting and Fishing Day to recognize hunters and anglers for their leadership in fish and wildlife conservation. Since launching in 1971, the day has been formally proclaimed by every U.S. President, countless governors and mayors. Stewart joins an elite fraternity of entertainment and sports figures that have served as honorary chairs, including Hank Williams Jr., Travis Tritt, Tracy Byrd, Jeff Foxworthy, Jay Novacek, Robert Urich, Wade Boggs, Ward Burton, Arnold Palmer, Terry Bradshaw, the USA Olympic Shooting Team and many others. The annual celebration is set for Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012.

“It’s a pleasure to be this year’s honorary chairman of National Hunting and Fishing Day,” Stewart said. “I love the outdoors and everything that goes into maintaining the outdoors. Nurturing the land is as satisfying for me as hunting and fishing.”

Canadian dad arrested after 4 year-old daughter draws image of him with a gun

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by Tom Woitovich

A Kitchener, Ontario, man was arrested and strip-searched last Wednesday after his 4-year-old daughter drew a picture in school. The picture depicted him with a gun. That’s right…his daughter drew a picture of him with a gun. When her teacher asked her what it was that she was drawing, she replied that she was drawing her Daddy “shooting burglars and monsters.” The teacher promptly took the picture to the principal, who called child protective services, who, in turn, called the police.

When the girl’s father, Jesse Sansone, got to the school to pick up his daughter, three police officers were waiting for him. They arrested him and charged him with possession of a firearm. They subsequently took him to the police station and strip-searched him. Furthermore, Sansone’s home was searched without his consent, and his wife and other children were also taken to the police station and questioned. The other children were separated from both their parents during their “interview.” Remember, all this activity was triggered by a preschooler’s drawing. Mr. Sansone was later asked to sign a waiver consenting to a search of his home – after being arrested and after police had already done a preliminary “walk-through” search. Apparently, law-abiding, gun-owning Canadians’ homes are subject to warrantless searches at any time. The only “firearm” that was found from the resulting search was essentially an “airsoft” toy.

NSSF Urges Congress to Pass Hunting, Shooting and Fishing Protection Bills

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NEWTOWN, Conn. — The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources will vote today to forward a historic package of legislation to Congress that includes a number of legislative priorities of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry.

H.R. 4089, known as the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012, was recently introduced by Congressmen Jeff Miller and Mike Ross, who are co-chairs of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, along with Bob Latta and Heath Shuler, vice co-chairs, and caucus members Congressmen Don Young, Dan Benishek and Dan Boren as well as Congressman Jeff Flake serving as original co-sponsors.

The bill combines a number of legislative priorities to expand and enhance recreational hunting, shooting and fishing opportunities while also protecting the firearms and ammunition industries from extremely detrimental regulations under the Environmental Protection Agency.

NSSF considers the legislation vitally important to help maintain the ranks of sportsmen and women who provide the bulk of support for wildlife conservation in America. Through the purchases of hunting and fishing licenses and sporting equipment such as firearms, ammunition and fishing tackle, which carry an excise tax, sportsmen have contributed more than $12 billion to wildlife conservation. “Sportsmen were our country’s first conservationists,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “Without continued, easy access to lands and waters where game and fish can be pursued, sportsmen will become less active and funding for conservation will decline, which be a loss for all citizens, not just hunters and anglers.”

Four bills are included in H.R. 4089:

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