Whew, I just got back from Knoxville. My wife and I decided to go help Ed Williamson protest the federal gun buy program. Notice I didn’t say “gun buy-back” to some of us that implies they owned the guns first. If you didn’t read the post in May Ed, single handedly protested the buy-back and kept getting pushed further and further away from the proceedings. This time he prepared with the help of a wonderful attorney Tom Henley they spent hours meeting with and discussing this event with the police chief and everyone else involved. Ed spent hours keeping us informed of the situation. He had a great information book printed and lots of handouts. He had assurances we would have the opportunity to talk with anyone turning in a gun and that our first amendment rights would be respected. The funny thing was that the “chief” never got back to him about the final arrangements and never even verified the buy-back was on. I stumbled on their web site and sure enough they were advertising it. We met off site and van pooled because Ed suspected they would rope off parking spaces. They did better. The entire street was lined with police cruisers (bumper to bumper so that you could not pass between them) and the end of the sidewalk was blockaded with a police tape. There were 30-40 officers on hand (earning overtime). There was two sections of parking lot they gave us the upper one which they stated was reserved for the “first amendment rights protesters” (yes, I typed that right) US. As soon as our van got in they set up a row of cones and instructed us to stay there or we could get on the side walk. We weren’t allowed on the sidewalk closest to the area they were making the transactions. They had it set up so that anyone coming up the street made a right hand turn past our “section with it’s cones” and headed down to an entrance where the officers gave them a form to fill out while they removed the gun from their car they then parked in the lower parking lot and parked then went into the building to finish the transaction. We got there 30 minutes early and they had already started. I knew we were screwed. At best we could only yell to people as they passed (the ones with the Gore/Bore stickers rolled up their windows) and were not allowed to hand out literature or discuss the issue without yelling across the parking lot. We had about 15 Patriots working our butts off in the sun and a pretty diverse group, an SAS (Christian, her husband and beautiful 11 month old daughter) a young John Birch society fellow who said he respected our stand (I was glad he was there to help) a constable, engineers, private shop owners, and a vet from South Carolina. My wife and I were honored to be part of this little group but we got snookered. Ed and Tom will be filing a suit because we were not allowed to exercise our 1st. I figure somewhere between 130-160 guns were turned in. Most were illegal or POS but I saw a couple of Rugar 10/22’s, a stainless Blackhawk, a stainless 38 snub-nose, SKS, 2 lever action 30-30, several hunting guns, possibly an Ithica double barreled home defender? made before the 18” rule, Several pump shotguns, and revolvers some nothing to write home about but at least one 357 magnum. I couldn’t believe the stupidity ( a lot of them had Gore stickers on their cars). Even though the odds were stacked against us we managed to “save just one child”! A lady pulled up to the corner and spoke with the officer and talked a long time as she turned down we asked her if she had had it appraised first, she said no, we told her we had a blue book if she wanted to know, we move the cones and she drove in. One of us managed to buy a Rossi 38 for $60! After that they told us not to touch the cones! We saved one! I’m still smarting over the stainless Ruger but I’ll get over it. Why, you ask? Because I am the SOB, I subscribe to the “art of war”. I see the set up and I know their weaknesses. I am going to continue to help this group in their next buy back protest but this time the rules are going to change if I can get the information I need we will give them a run for their money. One thing we do need is help. Ed was alone before, this time he had 15 or so folks, next time I’d like to see 15 fold. I think you folks are among some of the finest people I am getting to know because you educate, debate and care. Next time, I’d like not to be the only TFL member there! I will fill in more details later but right now I need a shower, and since I can’t get a beloved “Shiner” a Johnson Brown and a Nap. I’m whooped!
1st report from our protest of the Knoxville gun-grab
- Thread starter sumabich
- Start date
Jeff Thomas
New member
sumabich, thanks for the report. When I read Ed's email about the '1st Amendment area' I figured it would be some BS like this.
Hope someone took video / photos. This kind of crap needs to be litigated and exposed.
Typical fare, unfortunately, in our new land of the Freeh ...
Regards from AZ
Hope someone took video / photos. This kind of crap needs to be litigated and exposed.
Typical fare, unfortunately, in our new land of the Freeh ...
Regards from AZ
Jeff, Ed is a "crotchety old fart" (my favorite and what I aspire to be. We got some pictures, but as Tom said, this time it wasn't just his word against the 30 plus police and I think they plan to file suit. I have a different plan and will need a little help to pull it off. If this crap was happening in my home town I'd be as upset as Ed. He is a great American and I'm glad I could be there today. Jill and I compared our thoughts and said it was great to be part of something that was greater than ourselves.
Rich Lucibella
Staff
sum-
You're all to be commended on this. Talk's cheap. You guys put it on the line.
Thanks-
Rich
You're all to be commended on this. Talk's cheap. You guys put it on the line.
Thanks-
Rich
SUMABICH--Have you mentioned the gun buy program to TN's state lobby the Tennesee Firearm's Association www.tenneseefirearms.com
Im a memeber since they seem to make actual decision's on things like trigger locks and not be told by the propaganda of the liberal's that pushing the heck out of them is gun safety.
Course no group is perfect so I just had to ask.
Im on the other side of the state but its still be nice to know about the next program and if you can before your protests get phone
#'s,adress's or even emails address's for those of us 7 hours away itd be appreciated.
I realize such actions pale in comparison to being their but being heard never hurts.
This could include the email and mailing address for your local paper any state papers
(do you get the commercail appeal in Knoxville)
the mayor police chief ( as if the latter would do any good I realize their apponted).
Just thoughts your actions are obviously honored by all here and especially by Tenneseean's like myself.
Not long ago in Memphis, Mapco and Kroger stores were funding gunbuy programs I belevie the managers of several got to know me by name during that time.
Im also a JOhn birch society member thank you for mentioning the other fellow.
I havent received an issue of New american
yet that hasnt contained some sort of pro-gun article.
They have also at one point brought out that
gunbuy programs have often been used by the UN in different countries before guns were actually banned.
------------------
"those who sacrifice
liberty for security deserve neither"
Im a memeber since they seem to make actual decision's on things like trigger locks and not be told by the propaganda of the liberal's that pushing the heck out of them is gun safety.
Course no group is perfect so I just had to ask.
Im on the other side of the state but its still be nice to know about the next program and if you can before your protests get phone
#'s,adress's or even emails address's for those of us 7 hours away itd be appreciated.
I realize such actions pale in comparison to being their but being heard never hurts.
This could include the email and mailing address for your local paper any state papers
(do you get the commercail appeal in Knoxville)
the mayor police chief ( as if the latter would do any good I realize their apponted).
Just thoughts your actions are obviously honored by all here and especially by Tenneseean's like myself.
Not long ago in Memphis, Mapco and Kroger stores were funding gunbuy programs I belevie the managers of several got to know me by name during that time.
Im also a JOhn birch society member thank you for mentioning the other fellow.
I havent received an issue of New american
yet that hasnt contained some sort of pro-gun article.
They have also at one point brought out that
gunbuy programs have often been used by the UN in different countries before guns were actually banned.
------------------
"those who sacrifice
liberty for security deserve neither"
Good on ya for showing up to your "No Smelter Shelter." Next time do not tell them you are coming. Make it a surprise. See what happens when you play nice, when you play by their rules? There is a reason it is their rules...they don't want you to win.
Next time try the "unorganized" approach. That is, you are not part of some group, there is no leader, you are there alone. No permit required. You are there to buy guns. Let them try to stop you. Let them bluff you. Let them arrest you. Is it not worth it? Sue them.
Yes, you should press that suit. At the very least make them pay a lawyer to defend themselves.
Take names and make them pay in November.
Rick
Next time try the "unorganized" approach. That is, you are not part of some group, there is no leader, you are there alone. No permit required. You are there to buy guns. Let them try to stop you. Let them bluff you. Let them arrest you. Is it not worth it? Sue them.
Yes, you should press that suit. At the very least make them pay a lawyer to defend themselves.
Take names and make them pay in November.
Rick
Ed and Thomas did all the organizing. I got in touch with Ed after I read about his one-man stand against the police in May. My wonderful wife and I went to show our support against tyranny. Ruger 45, I'm sure any help will be welcomed I will try to post Ed's group's site but if you will e-mail me direct I will forward his link. He is sending regular updates on this. http://www.regnav.com P.S. I also invited all to the TFL and hope some of them show up, I think they'd like this family!
It doesn't take much effort to become a "crotchy old fart". A diet of BS from the KPD leadership and the city attorney's office will result in gross gasses being expelled from the flutter valve every time.
Thanks sumabich, you and your wife making the drive over from N.C. was inspirational to us all. From now on you are the "over the mountain boys."
The Knoxville News Sentinel published a surprisingly balanced account of the event. It is posted at www.regnav.com/NS.htm along with some "illuminating" comments.
The NS reporter who wrote the article in last Friday's paper, and neglected to mention our group, the Rights Education Fund, has accepted my lunch invitation. He seems like a reasonable and likable person and I hope to learn something of the media mindset.
The support all of you extend, verbal or otherwise, is much appreciated. Everyone can't take the point every time. We do need to recognize that the gomers are in the wire and we are involved in a last ditch stand. Someone e-mailed me couple of days ago to drop them from our list because "I was supporting Republicans." Damn right! Do we have a choice?
Thanks sumabich, you and your wife making the drive over from N.C. was inspirational to us all. From now on you are the "over the mountain boys."
The Knoxville News Sentinel published a surprisingly balanced account of the event. It is posted at www.regnav.com/NS.htm along with some "illuminating" comments.
The NS reporter who wrote the article in last Friday's paper, and neglected to mention our group, the Rights Education Fund, has accepted my lunch invitation. He seems like a reasonable and likable person and I hope to learn something of the media mindset.
The support all of you extend, verbal or otherwise, is much appreciated. Everyone can't take the point every time. We do need to recognize that the gomers are in the wire and we are involved in a last ditch stand. Someone e-mailed me couple of days ago to drop them from our list because "I was supporting Republicans." Damn right! Do we have a choice?
Sumabich and other "Knoxville Kommandos", my thanks also.
I was wondering if, when you are kept from being close to the sheeple turning in their guns, if you could make up large signs along this line -
"Free gun appraisal - don't sell that gun for a few bucks - check here first!"
That might pull in some people of their own free will. It seems to me it would be a propaganda coup if the police started keeping them from checking with you folks first, and perhaps start a few sheep to think.
I was wondering if, when you are kept from being close to the sheeple turning in their guns, if you could make up large signs along this line -
"Free gun appraisal - don't sell that gun for a few bucks - check here first!"
That might pull in some people of their own free will. It seems to me it would be a propaganda coup if the police started keeping them from checking with you folks first, and perhaps start a few sheep to think.
Oatka, that is good idea and a couple of our folks tried. And, Thing was, KPD pretty effectively kept us away from the "sellers". We do have a plan to counteract that next time around. Going to take a lot of planning and some money but we think we can pull it off. As Sumabich said, we did "save one child."
Brett Bellmore
New member
Bring a worn out Raven, (You know, one that's actually been fired.) get there early, and oh, so politely give people cuts in front of you. That positions you to talk to people in the line, while establishing your right to be in the line. Worst that can happen is you lose a garbage piece of die-cast zinc, and make a profit.
And if the police say that you can't talk to the other people in the line, call the ACLU!
------------------
Sic semper tyrannis!
And if the police say that you can't talk to the other people in the line, call the ACLU!
------------------
Sic semper tyrannis!
Brett, that's a great idea but these guy's know crowd control. They lined the approching street with cars and roped off the sidwalk. As a car approched the turned them from the street into the drive of the center. They gave us a parking lot adjoing that drive then placed safety cones and an armed officer at the end of our lot. (At one point we did get a person to come into our lot, moved the cones and gave out information but we were told not to do that again and an officer then stationed himself between that point and the corner to make sure it didn't happen again.) The cars then proceeded to the entrance of the building and all we could do is watch as the police took the guns from the car, and then had the people go park their cars. They then went inside to finish the paper work. I am glad Ed has posted here and I hope he will keep all of you updated on the next step. He will need our help. I just wish I had lived in Knoxville at some point, I'd like to know more about the "lay of the land". This was the first time I have exercised my first for my second and and it felt good.
Crap! I contacted Ed and offered my support but never heard about this! It wasn't in any newspaper that I saw, and Ed didn't e-mail me concerning it. You all could have another "protester" (and an attorney) to boot if you'd just let me know. I even live in Knoxville and could bring several other people.
buzz_knox:
I apologize for the oversight. It was not intentional. I received a ton of e-mail and tried diligently, and I thought successfully, to respond to everyone. I'm truly sorry I missed you.
We welcome you with open arms. Attorneys and police officers lend a certain "gravitas" (I finally got to use that word.) to our organization.
Ed
I apologize for the oversight. It was not intentional. I received a ton of e-mail and tried diligently, and I thought successfully, to respond to everyone. I'm truly sorry I missed you.
We welcome you with open arms. Attorneys and police officers lend a certain "gravitas" (I finally got to use that word.) to our organization.
Ed
regnav,
Again, congrats & many more happt returns.
Ah, how well do I know of that "designated First Amendment area."
Too, your "...I hope to learn something of the media mindset." Do so, but be wary. Some is, some ain't. One of the best pieces of advice I know of to pass along re media contacts is "always answer the question they SHOULD have asked" - not what was asked.
Again, congrats & many more happt returns.
Ah, how well do I know of that "designated First Amendment area."
Too, your "...I hope to learn something of the media mindset." Do so, but be wary. Some is, some ain't. One of the best pieces of advice I know of to pass along re media contacts is "always answer the question they SHOULD have asked" - not what was asked.