Regarding Knoxville's ban on guns in city parks, Knoxville Mayor and Tennessee Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam said on Tuesday that the "intersection of greenways and gun-free zones such as schools would make repealing the ban impractical," and voiced his support for a City Council vote upholding the ban (KNS).
Facing a backlash from gun fetishists, Haslam backtracked yesterday, issuing issued a statement that he is not against guns in parks and was merely protecting gun owners from criminal charges because the existing ban carries only civil penalties for illegally carrying in city parks and opting out of the new state law would make it a criminal offense (KNS).
[UPDATE: Based on the video linked to in comments, Haslam expressed both of these views in his remarks to City Council, but the second part was not reported which is probably why he issued a statement. Perhaps the reporter was trying to save him some embarrassment and he should have taken the hint.]
Haslam had previously joined the Mayors Against Illegal Guns, but facing similar backlash from the same yahoos decided to resign from that group and join the NRA instead, just as he was announcing his bid for governor.
Apparently this is the kind of strong "leadership" Tennessee could expect from Haslam as governor. Regardless of their views on gun violence and proliferation v. the individual right to bear arms, most voters would respect taking a stand one way or another v. insulting their intelligence by pandering to both sides at the same time.
As it is, Haslam has managed to alienate two groups: a) vocal gun nuts, and b) intelligent voters. Perhaps Mayor Haslam's view is that there aren't that many of either in Tennessee.
RELATED: Bill Haslam: Prepared to Lead?
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what was said
Apparently this is the kind of strong "leadership" Tennessee could expect from Haslam as governor.
AC at the Nashville Post has the play by play:
(link...)
Textbook pandering. That is what the lack of leadership looks like.
he is not against guns in
he is not against guns in parks and was merely protecting gun owners from criminal charges because the existing ban carries only civil penalties for illegally carrying in city parks and opting out of the new state law would make it a criminal offense
Will gun owners be thankful for his consideration?
If the city removed the ban
If the city removed the ban there is no penalty in effect, state or otherwise. He can assume what might happen until the cows come home. It does not make it a reality and we all know what happens when you assume things.
Are you saying...
... that lifting the bans in parks overrides the law banning guns in schools?
Really?
One thing I'm curious about
One thing I'm curious about is why Haslam thinks illegally carrying a handgun shouldn't be a criminal offense?
But to the larger issue raised earlier, if he has so much trouble formulating a clear position on this trivial and pretty straightforward issue, how will he govern on the more important complicated ones?
competent administrator,
competent administrator, inept politician?
He did manage to get
He did manage to get elected
Yes, twice.
The last time with a total of 5700 votes with turnout of about 7%. Impressive!
The first time was a little more interesting. He got 15,730 votes with 29% turnout and barely managed to beat a relative unknown by six points (52% to 46%).
He'll need close to 1,000,000 votes to move up to the big leagues and get elected governor.
Yeah, but at least 500,000
Yeah, but at least 500,000 will fall to whatever GOP candidate by force of gravity. Bryson got at least that many for the merest action of showing up on the ballot.
After getting a look at the statewide GOP field for the primary? Haslam in a walk. I can't see Wamp going all that far - the GOP tried their hand at the doctrinaire conservative candidacy in the person of one Van Hilleary. I doubt very much that they want to see a repeat of that. Then there's the money issue. Haslam has that buttoned up.
And unless Gibbons really starts making a showing, I don't see him taking many votes much further east than Jackson.
I also predict that Ron Ramsey gets lapped by the 3rd place finisher.
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Dirty deeds done dirt cheap! Special holidays, Sundays and rates!
I've said all along that
I've said all along that Haslam was a good mayor, would probably make a good governor, but it wasn't clear he had the stomach for the red meat of Republican party primaries.
The position he took on guns in parks is subtle, nuanced, and utterly defensible. The problem for him is that the Republican base doesn't do nuance. And the last statement just annoys the anti-gun crowd.
Was't it Jim Hightower who said there's nothing in the middle of the road except dead armadillos?
Seriously, I still expect Haslam to win. He's essentially the Republican Phil Bredesen and the majority of the state still likes moderates. Plus, there's all that money.....
Apparently this is the kind
Apparently this is the kind of strong "leadership" Tennessee could expect from Haslam as governor.
You'd figure we were used to it by now.
Watching this mini-episode, I'm thinking, "If you liked Bredesen, you'll love Haslam."
Which is probably why Haslam looks to be the odds-on favorite in the 2010 Goobernatorial Handicap.
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Dirty deeds done dirt cheap! Special holidays, Sundays and rates!