TennWatch/Volitics

Alexander on Gun Control

Received in a letter from the senator:

I am a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights. Gun control should not mean taking away these rights from law-abiding citizens and leaving criminals to terrorize the streets. But we must do something about gun-related crimes. As senator, I'll work with law enforcement officials from across the state to keep our neighborhoods safe. I'll vote for federal support to prosecute violent criminals, as in "Gun Crime IS Jail Time," a federally funded program in Memphis that ensures tougher, more consistent sentences for gun-related crimes. Good citizens don't abuse guns; criminals do.

Because I believe law-abiding citizens have a constitutional right to the weapon of their choice, I support allowing the 1994 federal ban on assault guns and magazines to expire. I am also a co-sponsor of the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2003 to authorize qualified law enforcement officers with valid identification to carry concealed firearms. And because I believe honest gun makers, distributors, dealers, and importers should not be subjected to frivolous lawsuits brought by trial lawyers, I am a co-sponsor of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. This bill would prohibit civil suits for damages resulting from the misuse of firearms but would not extend to those who transfer a firearm knowing that it will be used to commit a violent crime.

A few comments on this response from the senator:

1. I am against programs that mandate sentences and remove discretion from our judges. No tolerance policies are most often no sense policies.
2. ". . . a constitutional right to the weapon of their choice . . ." is an excellent phrase.
3. Why do law enforcement officers get to carry concealed firearms but not qualified citizens with valid identification? Is Alexander establishing a superior-class citizenry?
4. The notion of protecting an industry from frivolous prosecution offends me. Why not protect every industry? Tobacco was first, guns were second, fast food was third, but who's next?

Alexander the RINO

Tennessee federal representative Marsha Blackburn co-sponsored a bill to permently ban Internet acess taxes. Way to go Marsha! (She's my rep.)

The ban is on hold in the Senate because of people like Republican Lamar Alexander who is demonstrating his Democrat tendencies.

The left-wing Tennessean says:

Sen. Lamar Alexander is not voting to raise taxes. He is not trying to increase the cost of Internet access, nor is he advocating a new tax on e-mail.

Instead, Alexander is trying to protect states from excessive control by the federal government. Yet the conservative, states-rights position the senator has taken on Internet access taxes has been turned on its ear by his critics, many of whom are Republicans.

But my question to Alexander is why he is choosing this issue to stand up for State's Rights? What other issue has Alexander even hinted at wanting to stand up for States Rights?

This is a smokescreen for the tax-hungry Alexander, proving that at least this leopard hasn't changed its spots.

Alexander's Democratic Tendencies

Back when TN Senator Thompson decided to retire from public life and return to Hollywood, I was excited because I thought this was a good chance for a state trending conservative to replace the sometimes-too-liberal Thompson.

I backed Congressman Ed Bryant, a true conservative. But in a massively disappointing move, Bush selected ex-governor Lamar Alexander, who is Republican only in the Yankee sense of the word. Besides having a few skeletons in his closet, he was a mediocre governor, a poor Secretary of Education, and failed at two presidential bids.

But most telling about Alexander is that Tennessee sales tax increased 83% while he was governor.

And now he's at it again.

In spite of a tax surplus in Tennessee (well reported by the indispensable Hobbs), Tennessee Tax Revolt Alexander is aligned with Democrats to keep a crucial vote from happening - the vote that will extend the moratorium on internet sales taxes, which ends this Saturday.

Given that the Wall Street Journal reports that third quarter economic growth was at "a sizzling 7.2% rate" (the strongest in 20 years), one would think that Lamar (who owes his job to the president) would align himself with the president's tax-cutting policies. But Alexander wants more taxes.

As he is nearing the end of his political career, it is doubtful that Alexander will respond to public pressure from the voter base. IMHO, he is more interested in expanding his those-who-owe-him-favors circle and feathering his own nest.

Still, it certainly won't hurt to try. Contact Senator Alexander and demand that he get in line with his party and his president.

Update: Hobbs has more on this subject (of course).

Lamar Wants Internet Taxes

Senator Lamar Alexander has broken GOP ranks and is blocking passage of a Republican-sponsored bill to extend the moratorium on Internet taxation.

Lamar Lays Out 2nd Amendment Positions

Letter from Lamar Alexander in which he:

• Supports Project Exile
• Supports allowing the Assault Weapons Ban sunset
• Supports the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act that allows police to have more rights than citizens
• Supports and is cosponsor of Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms that keeps the gun industry from being sued into oblivion ala Big Tobacco

I am a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights. Gun control should not mean taking away these rights from law-abiding citizens and leaving criminals to terrorize the streets. But we must do something about gun-related crimes. As senator, I'll work with law enforcement to prosecute violent criminals, as in "Gun Crime IS Jail Time," a federally funded program in Memphis that ensures tougher, more consistent sentences for gun-related crimes. Good citizens don't abuse guns; criminals do.

Because I believe law-abiding citizens have a constitutional right to the weapon of their choice, I support allowing the 1994 federal ban on assault guns and magazines to expire. I am also a co-sponsor of the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2003 to authorize qualified law enforcement officers with valid identification to carry concealed firearms. And because I believe honest gun makers, distributors, dealers, and importers should not be subjected to frivolous lawsuits brought by trial lawyers, I am a co-sponsor of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. This bill would prohibit civil suits for damages resulting from the misuse of firearms but would not extend to those who transfer a firearm knowing that it will be used to commit a violent crime.