Squirt Guns Banned at Tennessee State University
BANNED! AT TSU!
Won’t the Tennessee State University be a safer place now that toy guns are banned? Next on the list–extending your index finger forward while holding your thumb up.
On yesterday’s radio program, we interviewed State Rep. Stacey Campfield regarding a change to TSU’s campus laws that appeared before a government committee in Nashville. Campfield said that the vote to ban toy guns passed on a party line vote. According to Campfield, Republicans voted against banning toy guns…Democrats voted for.
I made a request for the vote and will get the list up as soon as possible.
Here’s the story from Channel 4 in Nashville, although they underplay the ban on toy guns in the written piece, the video does mention the squirt guns. I encourage you to watch the video reporting put together by Dagny Stuart. It’s a good piece. The link is here.
Campfield is upset at TSU for banning all guns, including toys.
But TSU Campus Police Chief Sylvia Russell said toys can be mistaken for the real thing.
“Officers, unfortunately, when they come to an incident, they are responding in an emergency situation. They can’t tell if it’s a toy or not so they are going to treat that person like they have a very real weapon and that could result in injury or death,” she said.
State Rep. Thelma Harper, who represents the TSU district, said college students need help and protections, but said guns were not the right idea.
“Arming them with guns, that’s not he answer,” she said.
The link to WSMV Channel 4 is here.
Thanks to Rep. Campfield for reiterating the point made by Rep. Frank Nicely yesterday–that is, it’s not the concealed permit holders who are committing crimes with weapons.
UPDATE: During the interview with Rep. Campfield, I requested a copy of the vote. I wanted to know who voted for banning squirt guns, etc. Today (Thursday) Rep. Campfield told me that “they” have been unable to locate the vote and that for some reason the video is unable to be located as well. Campfield said that “they” think audio may be available. I’m assuming the “they” is the Committee that is supposed to maintain the records. Campfield is still trying to obtain the information for my request.
Developing…
12 Comments so far
Leave a comment
[...] legislature is pretty darn pro-gun. Unless those guns are super-soakers: Wont the Tennessee State University be a safer place now that toy guns are banned? Next on the [...]
By SayUncle » Seriously? on 05.09.07 8:15 am
So, nobody has ever approached you with a squirt gun loaded with bleach?
By Lee on 05.09.07 7:50 pm
Tennessee State University bans all guns including toys…
Tennessee State University bans all guns including toy guns. Included in this blog article by Terry Frank is a comment I find particularly telling:
State Rep. Thelma Harper, who represents the TSU district, said college students need help and protecti…
By right side of tech on 05.09.07 9:09 pm
The people who passed this need to get a real job. What freaks!
By red on 05.09.07 9:41 pm
Lee-are you being serious?
Right side of the Tech–I saw your comments over at your site. You’re right…a gun ban at Virginia Tech didn’t work. But when did such failed thinking ever stop such liberal politicians?
By Terry on 05.10.07 4:14 am
Back in the day, when I roamed the corridors, we went in fear of ‘green avengers’ – small, green, concealed squirt guns filled with cheap perfume.
Wielded by women out to get men who had affronted them.
By BlacquesJacquesShell on 05.10.07 10:18 am
That’s some professional grade stupidity. All they have to do now is fill up a water bottle with bleach. Shall we ban bottled water too?
By Jordan on 05.10.07 11:33 am
While I pesonally dislike gun control, I am willing to set aside my own protective rights in a given setting. However, as soon a a public college tells me I am unable to defend myself, they are accepting the responsibility of protecting me. TSU and the likes should be held liable for any crime that occurs on their campus as long as they prohibit students or faculty from being able to defend themselves reasonably.
As for this nonsense, the same circumstances described for toy removal from campus could be applied anywhere in the state, on or off campuses. Why limit toy gun bans to TSU, why not just make it state-wide. Should an officer in the projects not be afforded the luxery as one on a campus? In fact this legislation makes more sense off campus, as citizens are allowed to have actual firearms, thus heightening the confusion between toy and real. On campus, where students are prohibited to have guns it seems to be more cut and dry.
My two cents
By Malcolm Tent on 05.10.07 12:46 pm
State Rep. Thelma Harper, who represents the TSU district, said citizens need help and protections, but said guns were not the right idea.
“Arming them with guns, that’s not he answer,” she said.
Replace College Students with citizens (as most of them are) and you have obvious nanny-state anti-Constitutional Fascist state control…
Why is it ok to treat College Students (voting age adults in almost all cases) as small children in need of different rules and guidelines again?
Or should we ban all guns for all citizens as well? Wouldn’t that be a good plan? It worked for D.C. they have no crime at all… right?
By Gekkobear on 05.10.07 1:34 pm
Well then. I guess I’m transferring to TSU. My hair will be safe from random water-gun mishaps…
By knoxtnhorn on 05.10.07 8:09 pm
So, nobody has ever approached you with a squirt gun loaded with bleach?
By Lee on 05.09.07 7:50 pm
Lee, I had a friend was robbed after somebody with a paper cupful of gasoline doused him and threatened to light him with a match. By your logic, all paper cups should be made illegal , or at least be registered. Lee, I further submit a bleach were made illegal, this would then be a non-issue in your terribly frightening little world.
By Chip Braeuner on 05.11.07 3:23 pm
[...] NOW THIS IS JUST EMBARRASSING: Squirt guns banned at Tennessee State University. [...]
By WetWorx » Blog Archive » Can they outlaw my pointer finger soon, please? on 05.12.07 4:32 pm
Leave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>