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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Anonymously Nine's picture

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.

metulj's picture

Textbook messing with local

Textbook messing with local politics to score statewide political points. The whole thing is embarrassing. It's Knox County Politics (as manifested by the only remaining Knox-County-Commissioner-like City Council Member, Steve Hall) pushed up to the state level. Bickering about non-issues when there is meaningful policy that needs to get done in the City Council. Expect a lot more of this when Hall runs for Campfield's seat and Wamp starts hitting Haslam, who is infinitely more qualified than that high school dropout, during the GOP primary.

If real candidates would just step up for the Dems in the Campfield seat race, the race against Campfield in the Senate and in the governors race this might be a good chance to sideline a whole passel of idiots.

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler

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bizgrrl's picture

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?

Nobody's picture

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.

reform4's picture

Are you saying...

... that lifting the bans in parks overrides the law banning guns in schools?

Really?

metulj's picture

And another thing

I was considering a vote for Haslam for governor. He has officially put the cover to the coals on that happening with this pandering.

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler

Stimulating the economy as best we can!

Further stimulation with Yoga Wear!

R. Neal's picture

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?

metulj's picture

It's a good question. He's

It's a good question. He's got the reputation as an good governance advocate at the city level, but he's also a master of delegation. That won't work in Nashville where egos must be soothed, oxen gored, and patronage assuaged, will it?

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler

Stimulating the economy as best we can!

Further stimulation with Yoga Wear!

SnM's picture

competent administrator,

competent administrator, inept politician?

metulj's picture

He did manage to get

He did manage to get elected, but that may be the boiled down root vegetableness of it all.

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler

Stimulating the economy as best we can!

Further stimulation with Yoga Wear!

R. Neal's picture

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.

Andy Axel's picture

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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Rachel's picture

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.....

Andy Axel's picture

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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