Atomic City Talk

http://www.oakridger.com/stories/121107/...8541.shtml

I think it's about time that it's an issue!

Here we go again. A metal detector and a closed courthouse should not even be an issue to be discussed. It should be an automatic.

The commissioners speaking out for guns in the courthouse do not work in that building. They also do not realize their job is to protect their employees. Maybe they can protect their employees by bringing their guns to the courthouse and standing in front of every office. They must not read newspapers. Let me refresh their memories, Roane County shooting. Recently there have been senseless shooting in Omaha, Nebraska, Colorado, Las Vegas, Nevada. There have been numerous schools that have been violated. It will not happen here UNTIL IT DOES. What does it take to wake these commissioners up? They keep saying that Anderson County has one of the worst meth problems in the country. When these people are caught, where do you think they go? You got it, your local courthouse. Now, these people think straight and would not inflict harm on anyone in the courthouse. WAKE UP COMMISSION BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!!!!!

Disagree folks. No need to turn the courthouse into a fortress. This is overeaction. People will find a way to kill if that is what they are determined to do. The next step might be to set up road blocks at the edge of town and strip search anyone entering. Where does it stop?

I have a suggestion. Do as the Brits do. Ban..GASP.. guns. Even their police do not carry guns except under special conditions. And yes, I have one and it is registered.

That is what they are doing. They are banning and enforcing the ban of firearms in the courthouse. Believe me that is a lot easier than changing the outside political climate.

"Do as the Brits do. Ban..GASP.. guns."

Kind of tough to do with that pesky constitution thingy.

"Kind of tough to do with that pesky constitution thingy."

Uh, no. The US Constitution does not guarantee the unfettered right for anyone to bear arms anywhere. Or at least so says the Supreme Court. You can argue till you're blue in the face about whether the "well-regulated militia" clause constrains the government's role in regulating arms, but the Constitution means what the Supreme Court says it means. Accordingly, there are laws that prevent the unrestricted right to carry bazookas, mortars, hand grenades, swords, automatic weapons and fertilizer-diesel truck bombs. I count it a good thing.

"Accordingly, there are laws that prevent the unrestricted right to carry bazookas, mortars, hand grenades, swords, automatic weapons and fertilizer-diesel truck bombs. I count it a good thing."

Boy howdy doc, me too, but I thought that Knight Rider was talking about banning guns. You know...since that's what he said.

" . . . but I thought that Knight Rider was talking about banning guns. You know...since that's what he said."

And you brought up the constitution thingy. Since the word "gun" doesn't actually appear anywhere in the US Constitution, I had assumed you were referring to the Second Amendment, which refers to a right to bear "arms." If you were not referring to this, then I certainly apologize for my misunderstanding. What were you referring to, since banning guns in a courthouse is not actually prohibited by the Constitution?

BTW, guns are not "banned" in the UK. Private gun ownership is more restricted than here, but that is not the same as a ban.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politic...ed_Kingdom

To clarify my intent, ban, was not the correct word for me to use. I meant to imply that the Brits were well ahead of us in gun control. Certainly automatic weapons could be restricted from civilian use.

I was not aware that Tennessee has a registration law for guns. Or is this an Oak Ridge law?