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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Security has been stepped up after the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro received a number of angry and threatening phone calls. The calls have come after days of violence in the middle east that claimed the life of a US ambassador among others. Imam Ossama, the leader of the Islamic Center, said he was disappointed over the threats and he's outraged over the recent events in the middle east and condemns the violence. He said local muslims had nothing to do with what has happened overseas. *snip* The Rutherford County sheriff is aware of the angry calls and...

A noble piece of NBA news this afternoon: The Memphis Grizzlies, who are in no need of increased fan attendance, are offering a promotion to help reduce violence in the city of Memphis. This Saturday, the Grizz will join forces with Bloomfield Baptist church in an effort to collect, and dispose of, unnecessary firearms currently on the streets. For every gun that is turned in—no questions asked and no background checks performed, of course—the “donor” will receive two free tickets to an upcoming preseason game. Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal: “The city of Memphis will trade gas cards and Grizzlies...

A Highland Avenue woman shot and killed a man who had broken into her home and was attacking another man, Columbia police said. Prudence Spencer, who lives at 1503 Highland Ave., told police Thomas Darnell Moore forced his way into her residence by kicking in the front door about 4:23 a.m. Wednesday, Lt. Jeremy Alsup said. Moore began assaulting Terrance Hill, who was in the residence with Spencer, Alsup said. Spencer shot Moore to defend Hill. Moore was pronounced dead at the scene, Alsup said. Spencer and Hill fled to a neighbor’s house and called 911, Alsup said. The firearm,...

Brilliant — in a bizarre kind of way. What other way to describe the Gas for Guns trade scheduled for Sept. 15 at Bloomfield Full Gospel Baptist Church in South Memphis? Modeled after similar programs in other cities with too much gun crime, Gas for Guns offers a $50 gas card and two tickets to a Memphis Grizzlies game to anyone willing to trade in an unwanted gun — no questions asked. Mayor A C Wharton, a number of Memphis-area radio stations, The Tri-State Defender newspaper and Bloomfield Baptist all have pitched in to make this event work — and...

Everyone can use some free gas these days, right? As a part of his Memphis Summer Challenge Initiative, Mayor A.C. Wharton and several community conscious sponsors have joined forces to offer free $50 gas cards to citizens who turn in guns, as part of an effort to stop gun violence in the city of Memphis, particularly among teens. The event is going to take place on Saturday, September 15, 2012 in the parking lot of Bloomfield Baptist Church, located at 123 S, Parkway West, Memphis, TN 39109, from 10:00 a.m until 2:00 p.m. There will be no questions asked about...

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - The preliminary investigation into a fatal shooting near Fisk University on Thursday night reveals the incident may have been in self-defense. Police said Deverya Rose, 23, admitted to shooting her boyfriend Christopher T. Sims, 25, at an apartment on Blank Street. Rose told police she and Sims were involved in a violent altercation during which, she said, Sims put a gun to her head and grabbed her by the hair. Rose said while pushing her head to the floor, Sims laid the gun down. She picked the gun up and fired it, hitting Sims in the...

Police said a neighbor who has a gun carry permit spotted a burglar next door and put the man on the ground. Officers said James Kelly Glover, 37, of 1421 Wright St., was still lying down with a handgun trained on him when they arrived at the address on Jenkins Road.

A federal judge this week refused to void the Tennessee Democratic primary for U.S. Senate won by an anti-gay candidate the party has disavowed. --snip-- The petition contended that the party committed fraud because it could have kept Clayton off the ballot by meeting an April deadline to tell the state he wasn't a bona fide Democrat under the party's by-laws. The lawsuit also claimed the state's alphabetical arrangement of candidates' names on the ballot creates an unfair advantage for some candidates. The petition noted Clayton's 2008 Senate race, in which he lost to former state Democratic Party chairman Bob...

A bus full of three-dozen undocumented immigrants — displaying their illegal status for all to see — is set to stop in Nashville on Thursday to raise awareness of immigration politics. The “UndocuBus,” as organizers call it, will be at a public rally Thursday near the Super Mercado La Reyna #2 at 3761 Nolensville Pike in Nashville from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The group’s motto: “No papers, no fear.” Advertising for Thursday’s event is virtually nonexistent, but supporters are beginning to spread the word via Facebook. The group includes six undocumented immigrants from Tennessee. “The Hispanic community in Tennessee...

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The Democratic Party is vowing to fix the candidate review process that allowed Mark Clayton to become the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. The promise came after one of the candidates who lost to Clayton promised to sue the party. Democrat Larry Crim, who finished fourth in last week's primary, says party leaders should have researched Mark Clayton and kept him off the ballot. "Mr. Forrester did not do his duty to screen this democratic candidate," Larry Crim said. Crim blames party chairman Chip Forrester for the embarrassing mess. A letter from state Coordinator of Elections, Mark Goins,...

When is the National Rifle Association going after a politician news? When that politician is an incumbent Republican in a red state. The NRA has launched a full-scale assault on Tennessee state Rep. Debra Maggart, R-Gallatin, in an effort to have her unseated this fall. Maggart is more than just a state representative for the 45th District, which includes part of Sumner County. She is also the Republican caucus chairman, which gives her considerable clout in the General Assembly. Though the NRA routinely endorses Republicans, the gun rights organization doesn’t regularly endorse challengers to incumbent Republicans, even when the challenger...

COOKEVILLE, TN (WSMV) - Despite a sign prohibiting weapons, police said three people had brought guns into a movie theater Friday night where the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises" was showing. According to the Herald Citizen, all of the gun carriers had permits. Police said the movie was stopped briefly and officers entered the Carmike Highland Cinemas on South Jefferson Avenue around 9 p.m. According to investigators, a theater employee called police after seeing a man with a holstered pistol walk into the theater. Police found the gun carriers after making an announcement in the theater. The officers explained...

The Shelby County Commission has filed a subpoena in federal court asking for the identities of all online commenters in The Commercial Appeal's stories about suburban plans to create their own school districts. (snip) On June 26, the County Commission attorneys filed a federal court motion to block the Aug. 2 referendums to start school districts in Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland and Millington. They argued that the people who arranged the referendums are trying to discriminate against African-Americans by carving out majority white suburban districts from the new unified school district. (snip) But, Levy said, "Let's hypothesize that people...

Republicans can thank President Barack Obama for the party's solid control of the Tennessee Legislature, starting with his appearance at the top of the national Democratic ticket in 2008 — after losing the state's presidential primary even among Democratic voters — and continuing in more dramatic fashion in 2010. The GOP has used advertising that linked many Democratic state legislators, even some who were staunch fiscal and social conservatives, to the evil national Democrats. "You'd think Nancy Pelosi was my high school sweetheart and I played golf with Barack Obama every weekend," grumbled state House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner...

Located more than 1,000 miles from the embattled border between the United States and Mexico, Scotland County definitely is not on the forefront of the immigration debate. That didn't prevent local law enforcement officials from getting a first-hand glimpse of federal policy recently. On Monday, June 4th, Scotland County Sheriff's Deputy Bryan Whitney initiated a traffic stop on Highway 136 east of Downing. The deputy pulled over a white Ford truck for a lane violation on suspicion of careless driving.

Memphis may join the growing list of cash-strapped cities that ask nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations to make payments in lieu of tax. The City Council will vote Tuesday on a resolution to form a committee to explore the idea. "We want to see if this is feasible, and if it is feasible, how much revenue it could generate," said council member Janis Fullilove, who sponsored the resolution. Fullilove said the committee, if approved, would focus on tax-exempt and nonprofit entities that gross $15 million or more annually. As municipal budgets have felt the crunch of the economic slowdown, cities across...

Another ballot challenge has been dismissed, this one on the basis of legal standing. Most ballot laws allow any voter or citizen to challenge an ineligible candidate, but perhaps not Tennessee. But that's not the most interesting part of this legal decision. Instead, the Tennessee Democrat Party makes a baffling argument which includes a pretty obvious admission that they can't prove Obama is eligible for office: "Defendants assert that the Tennessee Democratic Party has the right to nominate whoever it chooses to run as a candidate, including someone who is not qualified for the office." What other point is there...

As your sheriff, I am writing this open letter to the citizens of Hamilton County. In recent days, I have been taking a lot of heat from some in the print media regarding my stand on commission cards, special deputies and the Sheriff’s Posse. I normally refrain from commenting publicly about such articles, because I realize everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Also, as an elected individual, I know I am fair game. This time, however; I feel I need to defend this matter more vigorously. Unfortunately, there are those in our community who strongly oppose our Second Amendment...

Regular, long-time readers of SFW may recall a posting from almost exactly 2 years ago in which it was announced that an attorney who had specialized in Shariah Finance had been appointed as a White House fellow by President Barack Obama: http://www.shariahfinancewatch.org/blog/2010/06/23/shariah-compliant-finance-specialist-joins-white-house-as-fellow/ The attorney in question is named Samar Ali. At the time she was appointed to the Obama White House, Ali raised some concerns nationwide due to her specialization in Shariah-Compliant Finance and her association with the World Islamic Economic Forum, an organization that has essentially designated Shariah Finance as “missionary operations” to promote Islam and Shariah. Now we...

MADISON, Tenn. - A man gunned down in a Nashville apartment complex Saturday night appears to be a case of self-defense. Police said 28-year-old Javonte Johnson tried to rob Howard Bridgeforth at in the Mission Apartments on Saturday. That's when Bridgeforth pulled out his own gun, opened fire, killing Johnson. An accomplice took off running. A stray bullet went into a neighbor's apartment, where kids were sitting inside. No one was hurt. But at least one of the four bullets fired went into a nearby apartment with children inside. Phyllis Richardson showed NewsChannel 5 the shattered glass door in her...