Free Republic

Senator Lamar Alexander has been a thorn in Tennessee’s side since 1979. He is not a conservative Republican. In fact, truth be known, he has sided with Obama over 62% of the time. Right now he is acting as the bagman for his buddy, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, and his great desire to tax the internet and put more small businesses out-of-business. First though, let’s look at Lamar’s history. He has worked in the private sector for only short periods of time. Lamar was Born in Maryville, Tennessee, which is only 20 minutes from where I live. He is a...

After I (Pharmboy) returned from King's Mountain (the wife and I stopped by there on the way back from attending my son's graduation from US Army Ranger School at Ft Benning), Bert told me that he and his wife would be following the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (OVNHT) from Eastern TN to King's Mountain, SC. I told Bert that I would love to see his account of the trip, and that I would also like to post it to FR: well, he did a terrific job on his blog, here are some excerpts. Go to the blog for more!...

Last week, shortly after a key provision of the Senate gun control bill was voted down, former Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod took to Twitter to announce his displeasure over the bi-partisan opposition to this legislation. Mr. Axelrod Tweeted “No Senator who heeled today on the NRA’s command should have the gall to issue mournful statements the next time gun violence strikes.” This comment is distasteful as it is illogical. It is especially offensive because the efforts by the White House and their allies are more about winning an ideological battle than truly addressing the underlying causes of...

Several readers had e-mailed me about the story of a 14-year-old who was apparently told that he couldn’t wear an NRA T-shirt (which depicted a rifle), and then arrested when the dispute escalated. Yesterday, he was apparently back in school (see ABC News and Washington Times) wearing the shirt, and many classmates are wearing the shirt, too. From the Washington Times account: Jared Marcum, 14, was joined by about 100 other students across Logan County who wore shirts with a similar gun rights theme in a show of support for free speech. Ben White, the Charleston lawyer representing the Logan...

Melton Hill Drive property Saturday, authorities said. He hit a tire. But the trio was able to escape in the black car—at least temporarily, authorities said. The three were arrested later after a search that included the Clinton Police Department, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and a Knox County Sheriff’s Department helicopter, the CPD said in a news release posted on its website. It all started when Jimmy Foster, the Melton Hill Drive homeowner, returned home Saturday and found the black Taurus in his driveway as well as people allegedly loading what appeared to be his property into the vehicle, the...

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The parking lot in front of Freedom Deli at 2088 Lowes Drive in Clarksville was filled Friday, March 29 with over 200 supporters of the 2nd Amendment at a Rally for the rights of gun owners. Tennessee State Senator Mark Green spoke from the back of a truck and lent his support to the cause, beginning by reading from the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be...

March 27, 2013: HELP US MOVE TENNESSEE KNIFE RIGHTS BILL: Knife Rights has just received word that HB0581, a Knife Rights requested bill that would enact Knife Law Preemption, repeal Tennessee's antiquated ban on automatic knives (switchblades) and repeal the the state's four-inch knife length limitation, is being held in the Tennessee House Ways and Means Committee. If you live, work or travel in Tennessee, please call Ways and Means Committee Chairman Mike Harrison at 615-741-7480 and politely request that he move HB0581 to a vote in the committee. If you get voice mail please leave a message for him...

Pigeon Forge, TN - A pastor said he cast out a demon, but a lawsuit contends the only the plaintiff's tooth was exorcised. According to The Mountain Press, Andrew Byrd filed a $3.7 million lawsuit against the Family Chapel Church of God in Pigeon Forge; pastor Joel Arwood; Arwood's wife, Theresa Arwood; and Charles Shields. Byrd said the Arwoods asked to meet him last February at the church, where Teresa Arwood said he had a demon in him. Byrd said Joel Arwood and Shields jumped him, knocking out a tooth crown and cracking other teeth.

<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Gov. Bill Haslam says Tennessee won't participate in a partnership with the federal government in establishing a health insurance exchange.</p>

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Republican lawmaker is proposing legislation that would require schools to inform a student's parents if the child is engaging in homosexual activity. Under the measure sponsored by Sen. Stacey Campfield of Knoxville, a school counselor, nurse or principal can inform parents if their children's "circumstances present immediate and urgent safety issues involving human sexuality." Campfield told reporters on Wednesday that he considers the "act of homosexuality" to be dangerous to a child's health and safety. The measure is part of a similar proposal, known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, that Campfield passed in the Senate...

The following incident happened at a high school only minutes from my home in East Tennessee. I am sure that no one outside of our immediate region has ever heard the story, because the only person who was shot-and killed-was the gunman. These types of stories don’t fit the narrative of those who want “gun-free zones” and so are ignored by the national media. In this case an armed Security Resource Officer, Carolyn Gudger, became a local hero and saved an unknown number of lives by holding the gunman at bay until backup arrived. The text below is drawn from...

KNOTT COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - Kentucky State Police are investigating a deadly shooting. At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Christmas night, Kentucky State Police in Hazard received a call that a person was possibly shot at the Jamestown Village Trailer Park in the Talcum community of Knott County. Police tell WKYT their early investigation indicates that two male subjects went to the residence of Ricky Sweet and asked to borrow gasoline. Police say that Sweet retrieved some gas from an outside storage building, when one of the individuals pulled out a handgun and demanded money. Police say Sweet fought back and...

(Memphis) Two robbery victims turn the tables on the man who tried to rob them. The victims, a man and woman were shot, but in the end its the robber who didn’t make it out alive. Twenty-two-year-old robbery suspect Darius Davis died Saturday. Police say he was shot as his victims tried to defend themselves. It happened early Saturday morning near North Watkins. “I’m still a little shaken up about it,” said Latasha Hodges, who was inside when the shooting started. Memphis Police say Davis was attempting to rob a man and woman in a driveway in the 1100 block...

KNOXVILLE — A Knox County man — released from jail on a burglary charge earlier this week — was shot while allegedly burglarizing a Northeast Knox County home today. Authorities responded just before noon to a home on the 5700 block of Old Tazewell Pike to a possible shooting, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office. Moments later, deputies found an injured man in a blood-spattered white car a couple of miles away near the corner of Washington Pike and Babelay Road.

Knoxville police searched Friday night for two men involved in a break-in attempt that left a would-be robber shot by a West Knoxville resident, authorities said. Knoxville Police Department officers were alerted at 9:56 a.m. of the shooting at 5455 Lance Drive, in the Timbercrest subdivision. The resident was identified as 59-year-old Gary Berthiaume, and the gunshot victim was identified as 19-year-old Joshua Williams, no address available, according to a news release from KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk. Both were treated at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, DeBusk said. Their conditions weren't available Friday night. Berthiaume was sitting on his...

(Memphis) Memphis Police are searching for two men who are on the run after a home invasion in the 3500 block Bigelow in Frayser Wednesday morning. Dareese Lee was in the house with his mother and his brother when he says someone rang the back door bell, “My partner opened the door to see who it was. That’s when they forced their way in.” Lee said there were three men with guns but no mask on. He said he was forced to the ground at gun point and his younger brother Kenny Davis heard the commotion from the back of...

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NASHVILLE — Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey says there's a good chance Democrats will be left with just seven seats in the Tennessee state Senate after the Nov. 6 election. House Speaker Beth Harwell's most optimistic Republican scenario has the minority party with just 24 representatives remaining. They and other Republican leaders say there's virtually no doubt that the GOP will hit a new high-water mark in the 2012 elections by gaining a two-thirds "super majority" in both chambers of the Legislature. There is considerable confidence in Republican ranks that they will go beyond that to what some are calling "a...

The number of U.S. deaths from fungal meningitis linked to potentially contaminated steroid injections rose to 19 with confirmation of two new fatalities in Tennessee and one each in Florida and Virginia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday. The deadly outbreak of the rare disease showed no signs of abating, as 14 new cases of meningitis were reported, bringing the national total to 245, plus two peripheral infections in joints.

DECATURVILLE, Tenn. - The Decatur County Sheriff's Office and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are investigating a weekend shooting in Decatur County. According to the TBI, officials were called to the scene in the 2200 block of Beacon Road around 5:00 a.m., Sunday. Investigators said Cameron Mays was shot and killed in the incident. The resident of the home reportedly told Mays not to come to his home. When Mays entered, officials said the resident shot him. Authorities are investigating the case and trying to determine if the shooting was self-defense. The shooter has not been charged.