Rep. Debra Maggart" src="http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20120425&Category=NEWS0201&ArtNo=304240030&Ref=AR&MaxW=300&Border=0&Puzzling-crucifix-email-comes-TN-guns-trunks-bills-delayed">
Rep. Debra Maggart / Sarah Kingsbury / File / Gannett Tennessee
Tennessee Firearms Association Executive Director John Harris" src="http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20120425&Category=NEWS0201&ArtNo=304240030&Ref=V2&MaxW=300&Border=0&Puzzling-crucifix-email-comes-TN-guns-trunks-bills-delayed">
Tennessee Firearms Association Executive Director John Harris / John Partipilo / File / The Tennessean
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A senior House committee voted to delay guns-in-trunks legislation until at least next year, despite a day of heated debate that included a call for the political crucifixion of a top Republican leader.
The House Calendar & Rules Committee recommended further study of a pair of bills barring employers from punishing workers who leave firearms in their cars, a move that denied a floor vote on the legislation. The decision came over the objections of Democrats and the National Rifle Association, both of which have demanded on-the-record votes on an issue that has pitted gun rights advocates against business groups.
The Republican-dominated committee took action on the bills swiftly, drawing a threat of litigation from a top Democratic lawmaker for not following proper procedures. Republican leaders also stood by their decision not to bring the bills to a floor vote, even after a prominent gun rights activist sent an email calling on followers to use this fall?s elections as an opportunity to set up a ?used crucifix? at the Capitol as a warning to future legislators who defy them.
The choice of words, which was never explained, roiled an already volatile debate.
The rhetoric around guns-in-trunks legislation has been heated throughout the legislative session, with leaders accused of trying to thwart gun rights.
Emotions spill over
But Tuesday, the argument began to take on hints of violence, starting with a morning email from Tennessee Firearms Association Executive Director John Harris, who earlier described legislative leaders as an ?axis of evil.?
Harris took aim at House Republican Caucus Chair Debra Maggart of Hendersonville, one of a handful of legislative leaders whom the group has blamed for holding up firearms legislation. The group called on TFA supporters to back Maggart?s opponent, Courtney Rogers, in the upcoming Republican primary.
?Rep. Debra Maggart?s political career needs to end much as the Romans crucified criminals ? not just to end her tenure but as a glaring example to other Republicans that you cannot take the grassroots groups or the rights of citizens for granted,? he wrote, adding, ?it is time to display a used crucifix at the entrance to the General Assembly as a warning.?
The email started to make the rounds in the House as lawmakers were engaged in an emotional debate over whether a cyberbullying bill should exempt the use of religious symbols. The unusual phrase ?used crucifix? seemed to puzzle members and staffers; opponents of the amendment said the email appeared to be a threat couched in religious language.
?Ladies and gentlemen, that?s intimidation, against your own leadership,? said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner. ?If you don?t think it is, God help us all.?
She's 'disappointed'
Maggart said afterward that she had no idea why Harris, whom she has known since they attended Goodpasture Christian Academy together in the late 1970s, had singled her out.
?I?m disappointed John would write something like that,? she said. ?I think the folks that founded our high school ... would be disappointed that he would choose to use rhetoric like that.?
Darren LaSorte, a lobbyist for the NRA, sought to distance the NRA somewhat from Harris? comments.
?It wouldn?t be fair to all the 1 million, 2 million gun owners in the state to hold them accountable for one man?s comments,? he said when apprised of them. ?One thing that John Harris has going is he is critical of the leadership ? no doubt about that ? and that is part of the political discourse. It?s part of how politics works.?
The action by the Calendar & Rules Committee surprised few people. The committee mainly consists of senior members of the House, and Republican leaders have said for weeks that they had no intention of letting guns-in-trunks legislation reach the floor.
But the fact that House Bill 3559 and House Bill 3560 got all the way to the calendar committee ? the final step before a floor vote ? demonstrated the legislation?s wide support, both among ardent gun rights supporters and Democrats who see the bill as an opportunity to hurt Republicans in their re-election bids.
Gun rights advocates have at least one option remaining: They can petition to bring the bills directly to the floors of the House of Representatives and Senate. But such a petition must be supported by two-thirds of the members.
LaSorte said the group views getting the bill to the floor as more important than seeing it passed.
?You?re trying to absolutely quiet us and not allow that public vote,? LaSorte said of lawmakers who would resist efforts to bring it up.
Anger at procedure
The debate grew heated in the Calendar & Rules Committee after Chairman Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, first sent HB 3559, which says employers cannot punish workers for carrying guns, to summer study without any discussion.
Dunn attempted to do the same with HB 3560, which says businesses must permit them in parking lots if left in locked vehicles, but Turner interrupted him to demand a discussion.
?My lawyer?s right out here right now in the damn room, and I will sue this place if you don?t follow procedure,? Turner said.
Republican members shouted that Turner was out of order. Turner rose from his seat and muttered an even stronger expletive while glaring across the room before backing down.
Republicans still managed to kill the bill for the year, but not before Democrats forced an on-the-record vote. The tally went down 15-8, with Democrats joining a few rank-and-file Republicans in trying unsuccessfully to send the bill to the floor. Republican leaders held the line. The most emphatic vote against the guns-in-trunks bill came from Maggart
Re: God & Gun may destroy this country
Above Us Only Sky
I'm ignorant on this issue. Is the main reason we all need access to guns for defense .....because the criminals will still get them illegally and then we won't have guns to defend ourselves? Having guns at work, albeit in the parking lot, seems like a bad idea.
I find the gun issue both fascinating and terrifying.
It really is a fascinating 2nd amendment v. 5th amendment argument, but I would say 5th wins. 2nd amendment doesn't give you the right to bring your gun with you everywhere
Above Us Only Sky
I couldn't get anywhere with all of that. It all sounded like a cartoon.
I am surprised at the debate since 2 similar laws passed with hardly a ripple in Maine.
The first law said that you can leave your gun in your car at work and the second expanded the first to say that you can leave your gun in your car at work even if you work for the state.