Knoxville City Council Votes to Delay on Gun Ordinance

This evening the Knoxville City Council was to hear speakers and vote on repealing the ban on guns in city parks. In support of this repeal, many people took time to travel downtown to support by attendance or speak out in support; but as was the case for the previous debate on "opting out" of the new state law, the citizens' time was yet again wasted in favor of delay.

A workshop is scheduled for September 3 at 5:00 PM. To allow for this workshop on the gun issue, the measure is delayed for four weeks and will be taken back up on September 22. I would like to take a moment to point out that the Knoxville City Government had a chance to listen to its citizens at a workshop on the 20th of this month, but sought it more appropriate to CANCEL THE WORKSHOP!! Now we must have yet another workshop. I don't think you care what the people think. I think you will try to get away with anything you can, and I don't think a workshop will have any effect on how you will vote. If you really cared how we felt on the issue, you would have not canceled the previous workshop. I know I love my liberty in an APPROPRIATELY extreme way, but how bout you people on the Knoxville City Council take a frekin' hint! YOU DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO NEGATE ANY PART OF THE CONSTITUTION EVEN IF YOU THINK IT IS FOR OUR OWN GOOD! WE WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROTECT OURSELVES! GET OUT OF OUR WAY! I hope that wasn't in any way unclear.

It was apparent to me as I spoke to Marylin Roddy, a city council member, that she had a (politically correct) indifference to opting out of the state law and would like to hear more from her constituents before voting. Ms. Roddy, in what universe must you live in to not know how you stand on the 2nd Amendment? It is a core issue which is debated often! That was her position last month with the previous resolution. Today, she floated the idea of a "compromise" ordinance which would exclude all parks which have playgrounds or ball fields which are frequented by children. Clearly, she is at best hostile to the 2nd amendment. I also find it hard, with an exception of one or two, to picture clearly any parks which her "compromise" would not encompass. So as I see it, her "compromise" is not a compromise at all; it is in effect a ban in the essentially same effect as the ban exists today.

Here is her contact information:

Marilyn Roddy - at large
920 Iskagna Drive
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 637-0333
Email: mroddy@cityofknoxville.org

If you support the 2nd Amendment, make her phone ring off the hook and overflow her in box with e-mail telling her how the 2nd Amendment is not hers to deny in any way. Her power is not superior to the constitution, but inferior. Would she propose that we deny the public their 1st (or any other) Amendment rights because it in some way is harmful to any certain group in any certain area? If she and the other council members have the authority to deny the 2nd Amendment, by what rational are they prohibited from denying any other Amendment?

Set your calendars; call your council member(s); speak out, speak loud, & speak often! We can force them to obey the Constitution even if it is against their idea of how they would shape our lives. They are our servants, and their first priority as our elected servants is to protect our rights. Only after that is complete may they observe any other act of governance. Make it clear to them whom they serve!

In case you don't know how to contact Knoxville City Government, here are Ms. Roddy's and important county officials along with the other city council members' contact info:

Knoxville City Officials' contact information:
Mayor Bill Haslam
City County Building
Phone: (865) 215-2040
Fax: (865) 215-2085
Email: mayor@cityofknoxville.org

Mayor's Office
William Lyons, Senior Director
Department of Policy & Communications
Phone: (865) 215-2029
Email: wlyons@cityofknoxville.org

Larry B. Martin, Deputy to the Mayor
Phone: (865) 215-2086
Fax: 865-215-2277
Email: lmartin@cityofknoxville.org

Thomas Strickland, Jr., Director
Community Relations
Special Assistant to the Mayor
Phone: (865) 215-2048
Fax: (865) 215-2085
Email: tstrickland@cityofknoxville.org

Council members can be reached by contacting the City Recorder's Office
Phone: (865) 215-2075
Fax: (865) 215-4269
City Council Members

Vice Mayor Bob Becker - Fifth District
125 E. Columbia Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37917
Phone: 865-387-0752
Email: bob@bobbecker.org

Joe Bailey - at large
424 Hillvale Turn, West
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 637-4477
Email: jdbailey@cityofknoxville.org

Chris Woodhull - at large
223 Deadrick Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: (865) 661-4131
Email: chriswoodhull@bellsouth.net

Marilyn Roddy - at large
920 Iskagna Drive
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 637-0333
Email: mroddy@cityofknoxville.org

Joseph Hultquist- First District
2240 Fisher Place
Knoxville, TN 37920
Phone: (865) 579-1250
Email: joseph49@bellsouth.net

Barbara Pelot - Second District
8437 Corteland Drive
Knoxville, TN 37909
Home: (865) 693-0454 OR (865) 671-1544
Fax: (865) 693-0525
Email: rpelot3@aol.com

Steve Hall - Third District
5748 Acapulco Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: (865) 584-9567 OR (865) 522-1195
Email: InteriorFinishes@MSN.com

Rob Frost - Fourth District
P.O. Box 300
Knoxville, TN 37901-0300
Phone: (865) 525-1303 OR (865) 546-7000
Fax: 865-546-0423
Email: RobFrostCityCouncil@comcast.net

Robert J. Booker - Sixth District
2621 Parkview Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37914
Phone: (865) 546-1576

Really agree with what you read? Really disagree? Somewhere in the middle?....Let yourself be heard in the comments!
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Knoxville To Consider Opting In To State Gun In Parks Law

The Knoxville City Council will be addressing item 12-a on the current agenda (http://www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/citycouncil/agenda.pdf). This is an ordinance to amend Section 20-60 of the Knoxville City Code to allow citizens possession of firearms or weapons within City parks. The City Council meeting will be held Tuesday, August 25 at 7:00 P.M. at the City County Building (400 Main St. Knoxville, TN 37902). Whether you live, work, or visit Knoxville, calling and e-mailing all council members with your concerns of support for item 12-a will help regain some of our liberty and equip ourselves to better protect ourselves, our families, and our friends; however, It is critical that if you support the Second Amendment that you attend the meeting. A head count will likely be taken of attendees who are supportive of the proposed ordinance as was done at previous meetings concerning this subject. If this measure is passed, it is quite likely that to ban guns again in Knoxville will require an alteration of Tennessee State Law which will prevent the City of Knoxville from disregarding the Second Amendment by merely voting so. Supporting this ordinance will also be witnessed by Knox County officials. Many times the County and City amend their laws to match each other, and if Knoxville repeals its ban on weapons in parks, it will give support to the preservation of the Second Amendment in the county as well.

Knoxville City Officials' contact information:
Mayor Bill Haslam
City County Building
Phone: (865) 215-2040
Fax: (865) 215-2085
Email: mayor@cityofknoxville.org

Mayor’s Office
William Lyons, Senior Director
Department of Policy & Communications
Phone: (865) 215-2029
Email: wlyons@cityofknoxville.org

Larry B. Martin, Deputy to the Mayor
Phone: (865) 215-2086
Fax: 865-215-2277
Email: lmartin@cityofknoxville.org

Thomas Strickland, Jr., Director
Community Relations
Special Assistant to the Mayor
Phone: (865) 215-2048
Fax: (865) 215-2085
Email: tstrickland@cityofknoxville.org

Council members can be reached by contacting the City Recorder's Office
Phone: (865) 215-2075
Fax: (865) 215-4269
City Council Members

Vice Mayor Bob Becker - Fifth District
125 E. Columbia Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37917
Phone: 865-387-0752
Email: bob@bobbecker.org

Joe Bailey - at large
424 Hillvale Turn, West
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 637-4477
Email: jdbailey@cityofknoxville.org

Chris Woodhull - at large
223 Deadrick Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: (865) 661-4131
Email: chriswoodhull@bellsouth.net

Marilyn Roddy - at large
920 Iskagna Drive
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 637-0333
Email: mroddy@cityofknoxville.org

Joseph Hultquist- First District
2240 Fisher Place
Knoxville, TN 37920
Phone: (865) 579-1250
Email: joseph49@bellsouth.net

Barbara Pelot - Second District
8437 Corteland Drive
Knoxville, TN 37909
Home: (865) 693-0454 OR (865) 671-1544
Fax: (865) 693-0525
Email: rpelot3@aol.com

Steve Hall - Third District
5748 Acapulco Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: (865) 584-9567 OR (865) 522-1195
Email: InteriorFinishes@MSN.com

Rob Frost - Fourth District
P.O. Box 300
Knoxville, TN 37901-0300
Phone: (865) 525-1303 OR (865) 546-7000
Fax: 865-546-0423
Email: RobFrostCityCouncil@comcast.net

Robert J. Booker - Sixth District
2621 Parkview Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37914
Phone: (865) 546-1576



Really agree with what you read? Really disagree? Somewhere in the middle?....Let yourself be heard in the comments!
_