Commoners take licks, hope for best as Marceaux argues before Judge Lasley
Basil Marceaux, the night’s most noted defendant, argues a point in Soddy-Daisy sessions court Tuesday as Judge Marty Lasley waits to fire back. (Photo David Tulis) Sessions court meets every Tuesday in the north Hamilton County town of Soddy-Daisy, its judge mild mannered but coming to the bench with a list of minimum expectations. (Photo […]
Gardenhire kills ‘constitutional carry’ by ‘blowing smoke,’ Harris says
Sen. Todd Gardenhire takes the GOP establishment’s position against the right to bear arms. (Photo Nashvillepublicradio.org) On March 8, 2016, Sen. Todd Gardenhire helped kill so-called constitutional carry in Tennessee in a Senate judiciary committee vote. Or nonvote. Sen. Gardenhire declined to say yay or nay on the proposal that would have allowed all law-abiding […]
A night in Soddy-Daisy city court: Lasley corrals herd of petty defendants
A murder defendant stands before Judge Mart Lasley in Soddy-Daisy city court in 2012. Most defendants appear for victimless petty offenses. (Photo VLB Productions on YouTube) The ugly spat between Brittney Parker and Roy Corder, 29, continues in a neon-lit courtroom in Soddy-Daisy, with the judge playing uncle and scold and town cops tossing in […]
GOP’s Gardenhire won’t lift pinkie for right to bear arms in Tennessee
On March 8, 2016, Sen. Todd Gardenhire killed so-called constitutional carry in Tennessee in a Senate judiciary committee vote. Or nonvote. The senator “passed” on a proposal that would have allowed all law-abiding citizens of Tennessee to carry a firearm on their person without giving first an OK and a license from Gov. Haslam’s department […]
Sideways smokestacks 5 days straight: Haze covers city as jets steak skies
Cough, cough, cough! Nashville is heavily treated March 8. (Photo Misty Rochelle, Chemtrails Global Skywatch) Artificial clouds are laid down one day this week over Knoxville like a carpet. Note the edge. (Photo Marla Stair-Wood) This treated sky in Sullivan County, Tenn., this week is either beautiful or sickening, depending on what you know about […]
GOP wrecking freedom in firepower, liberty in marriage
Rep. Mike Carter, a Republican, is a former sessions court judge. (Photo wrcbtv.com) Todd Gardenhire defeats gun “constitutional carry” in Tennessee by not voting, but the bill can be revived, John Harris of the Tennessee Firearms Association says. Meanwhile, defenders of marriage work to crowbar the defense of natural marriage act from a state house […]
Gardenhire rejects right to bear arms in gun vote ‘pass’
Sen. Todd Gardenhire, “establishment” Republican Senator Mark Green presented his constitutional carry bill (SB1483) Tuesday in the Senate Judiciary committee but it failed thanks to Chattanooga Sen. Todd Gardenhire, a Republican. The bill would have, as amended, imposed only the burden on a citizen of obtaining at least eight hours of training from any state […]
Bill asks U.S. congress for marriage remedy, rejects common law solution
Rep. Mark Pody’s defense of marriage bill — stuck in a Tennessee subcommittee — continues to be the focus of pro-marriage Christians. But their ranks are divided. A pro-family critic of interposition helped kill it with talk about its potential cost in lost U.S. cash. Marriage belongs to every man and to every woman as […]
2 prosecutors, trooper don’t have ‘absolute immunity,’ suit says
A free user of the public roads convicted under the state’s vague “intent to go armed” and its commercial motor vehicle license statute is fighting Nashville’s efforts to disentangle two prosecutors and a highway patrol deputy from litigation. Arthur Jay Hirsch sued district attorney Kim Helper, Tammy Rettig and trooper Jeff Reed operating in Middle Tennessee […]
Immunity laws let ‘the good people’ exist above rest of us
A bill in the general assembly proposes giving Tennessee National Guard members immunity if they are accused in a tort action. The bill breezed through the Senate. Why immunity? “Complete and absolute immunity is required for the free exercise and discharge of the duties” of members or staff of such agencies. “Members *** must be […]