NRA’s strong-arm tactics annoying

By Staff Reports

The strong-arm tactics of the National Rifle Association aren’t winning them friends in the Tennessee legislature.

Some lawmakers who once bowed down to the association are now bowing their backs.

The issue now is NRA’s desire to revive a bill to give employees the right to store weapons in their vehicles parked at work.

Defeat of the measure in the last session of the legislature cost House Republican Caucus Chairman Debra Maggart of Hendersonville her job. The NRA spent more than $86,000 in a successful effort to defeat her in the primary because they said she was instrumental in blocking the bill.

The involvement in legislative district races surprised and annoyed some lawmakers.

Gov. Bill Haslam, who generally backs the gun bill but wants exceptions for larger employers, campaigned and raised money for some Republicans who lost out in the primary.

Ever the diplomat, he said it’s certain that the legislature will talk about the subject.

That’s for sure. Some of the talk may want to consider an anti-bullying law.

—Paris Post-Intelligencer