March 22, 2018
Rep. Jeremy Faison expresses frustration with a "special kind of stupid" as one of Beth Harwell's House committees continues to play games with his legislation on medical marijuana.
Tennessee Firearms Association wants to recognize with appreciation the frustration that has caused Rep. Jeremy Faison to finally share with the public the hard facts of trying to pass controversial legislation even when the law or facts might be otherwise clear.
His comments related to his efforts to enact "medical marijuana" legislation, a topic not normally addressed by TFA other than its impact under federal law on the 2nd Amendment rights of those who might be helped by such a law. However, his comments evidencing his frustrations with Beth Harwell's committee leaders and system are strikingly similar to the problems that 2nd Amendment advocates have experienced repeatedly and consistently under a Republican "super majority" when led by the wrong kinds of leaders.
On March 21, Rep. Faison presented his medical marijuana legislation to the House Criminal Justice committee. The bill debate started but did not finish. Speaking to reporters after his bill was pushed off, Rep. Faison's frustrations with the situation were evident in his comments as recorded by a local news station:
"You gotta be a special kind of stupid to not realize this helps Parkinson's," Faison said. "This whole notion that this is a schedule one drug, you are a special kind of ignorant human being if you think this is still a schedule one drug. That means there's no value to human life. Holy smokes. Why don't you tell that to all of the people who are illegally alive today that this plant has no value to them."
Over the last 8 years, the super majority of Republicans in the Tennessee legislature have been under the total control of certain individuals who identify as Republicans. During this time bills to eliminate infringements on the 2nd Amendment and the Tennessee constitution have repeatedly been shut down in the committee system or in the Senate under the thumb of the Lt. Governor and Judiciary chairman Brian Kelsey.
Sadly, those conspiring in the shenanigans and stunts often rely heavily on representatives from law enforcement, Haslam's administration, the TBI, and the Department of Safety rather than to rely on the single sentence comprising the 2nd Amendment.
What bill topics have they killed?
- constitutional carry
- permitless open carry
- permitless concealed carry
- eliminate gun free zones
- decriminalize the posting statute relative to private property
- holding businesses and government agencies that post "no guns" liable to individuals injured as a result of those policies
- prohibit 2nd Amendment based discrimination by local governments
- allow citizens to have private rights of action against government officials over 2nd Amendment violations
- exempt permit holders from the TICS/NICS system
- eliminate the TICS system (at a cost of over $5,000,000 per year to gun owners) and proceed under the NICS system
- failures to treat all "citizens" equally relative to the rights of self-defense, carrying of arms, and reciprocity
- true restoration of rights on entry of a court order of restoration or pardon
- allow school employees who want to carry to do so
- campus carry for college students
- campus carry for parents and adults
- eliminate inclusion of antique weapons as a "firearm" so that state and federal definitions are consistent; and
- enforce the 10th Amendment against federal infringements of the 2nd Amendment
... just to name a few.
Now, not all gun owners may be 100% on all of these issues. That's ok - that is how a constitutional republic works.
However, it is critical to understand that through stunts and shenanigans by leadership and the committee chairs over the last 8 years these issues are not even getting to the floors of the respective houses for consideration and debate by all legislators. That is outright disenfranchisement of the voters because probably 80%-90% of the elected legislators in the last 8 years have never had the opportunity or the duty to debate or to vote and be held accountable on these topics. Sadly, that same 80-90% have never acted in unison to demand that these issues be put before them on the floors of the House or Senate.
What can you say about 8 years of votes, stonewalling, stunts, shenanigans and dereliction in a system set up and controlled by the Legislative leadership to make sure that these bills are never openly heard and debated on the House or Senate floors by all elected representatives and senators?
Do they not understand that these issues implicate constitutionally protected rights? Do they not understand that these issues directly impact the capacity for individuals to defend themselves, their spouses, their families and friends? Do they not understand that keeping, bearing and wearing arms are not just about hunting or recreational activities?
Borrowing from Rep. Faison's frustrations on medical marijuana should we now be asking if these legislators who are at fault for these shenanigans and abuses are a "special kind of stupid" or a "special kind of ignorant"? Is it something even worse than failing to comprehend the constitutional significance? Is it something worse than ignoring campaign promises? Is it a willingness to disenfranchise the citizens of 80-90% of the state whose elected legislators are never called upon to consider and vote on these issues?
Again, TFA applauds the enthusiasm that Rep. Faison has shown on a topic that is clearly important to him and on which he is trying get a vote. TFA applauds Rep. Faison for looking past the stonewalling and raising the important question for voters and citizens of whether such failures are special stupidity, special ignorance or something else.
If you are tired of the stonewalling, the shenanigans, the disenfranchisement that has been the standard operating procedures under Beth Harwell's leadership - then you need to be doing something about it. Call your legislators and demand that all 2nd Amendment bills be brought to the floor this year - this election year. Go ahead - demand it because our bet is that they will simply listen but not do it. Then, after they have been given a chance we encourage you to go to the polls in August and vote to replace those who have conspired to disenfranchise you, those who have ignored the constitution and those who have stood by as mere spectators while their peers have so clearly chosen to keep these important issues from public hearings, debate and consideration by all elected legislators.
Let your voice be heard and contact your legislators. You can identify your legislators on this website tool.
John Harris
Tennessee Firearms Association
Executive Director
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