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Old? Autistic? Deaf? Mentally ill? Don’t call cops

Armed officers are a danger to people who are mentally ill or autistic. Anyone who cares for someone with a developmental disability, as well as for disabled people themselves [lives] every day in fear that their behavior will be misconstrued as suspicious, intoxicated or hostile by law enforcement. —Steve Silberman, The New York Times By […]

Harmer pitches complaints about prisons to both GOP, Dems

Democrats in Nashville, including, from left, Rep. Joanne Favors of Chattanooga, standing next to Rep. John Ray Clemmons, who has received letters of complaint from Tennessee prison inmate Grenda Harmer. (Photo Nashville Public Radio) I received your letter with the enclosures. I’ve not had time to read the enclosures because I did want to get […]

Lesser magistrate doctrine helps locals defy evil acts by high officials

This drawing shows the sack of Madgeburg by papal forces in 1550, the city defended under the doctrine of the lesser magistrate. (Photo of drawing by Johann Philipp Abelin, 1646, Wikimedia) This coming Oct. 31 marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. On that day 500 years ago – October 31st, 1517 – Martin Luther nailed […]

Jets scar morning sky over Chattanooga; but program halved

A car leaves the Waffle House at the bottom of the hill on Highway 153 in Hixson, its driver no doubt dazzled by the demonstration of aerial prowess of a civil authority that runs a military weather program wreathed in secrecy. (Photo David Tulis) Negative emissions by jet aircraft are part of the federal government’s […]

Go to hell, judges tell Hispanics, others seeking to use TN roads freely

Basil Marceaux of Soddy-Daisy, right, and Jay Hirsch of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., discuss the Hirsch gun and travel case after oral arguments in Nashville. Like Mr. Hirsch, Mr. Marceaux has been in court dozens of times, asserting constitutional rights to travel and to be free of state roadblocks. (Photo David Tulis) An impoverished independent businessman vows […]

Police ethics rules require ‘respect of constitutional rights’

Chattanooga police department officers in a huddle. (Photo Wdef.com) But commoners would fear the officer’s approaching cruiser less if they could learn about the ethics rules he swore to uphold — and trust that he would obey them. And possibly remind him, as he reaches for his citation booklet or his club, of his oath. […]