Every day seems to bring fresh servings of foolishness from our
elected representatives in Nashville. A few weeks back, Representative
Joe Towns and Senator Ophelia Ford sponsored a bill making it a
misdemeanor for any person to knowingly wear pants below their
waistline. I understand the intent. We’ve all been exposed, ahem, to
this fashion crime. But I say these charges just won’t “hold up” in
court. Besides, anyone charged with this crime could hire a good lawyer and get off with a “suspendered” sentence. Heh.
Equally misguided is the recent bill sponsored by Senator Paul
Stanley of Germantown, which prohibits county health departments, city councils, or local governing bodies from enacting any ordinance
requiring restaurants to provide nutritional information for their
customers.
This is classic hypocrisy from those who often laud the virtues of
local government over the evil Big Brother state. Nashville knows best, they’re saying. Why should Tennesseans have the right to know what they’re eating?
And, of course, no recap of the goings-on in what national political
website Wonkette.com called “the world’s stupidest legislative body” would be complete without recounting the latest nonsense on guns.
Simply put, our legislators are kowtowing to the gun lobbies and the
3 percent of Tennesseans who have concealed-carry handgun permits. The result: We are no longer allowed to know who holds a permit, since the legislature has made that information a state secret. And said
permit-holders will soon be allowed to carry guns in parks, restaurants
where alcohol is served, and late-night bars.
The most ludicrous recent development was a debate last Monday on
whether to allow guns in the state Capitol. Lieutenant Governor Ron
Ramsey was all for it, citing an NRA release that “handgun permit
holders are more responsible with their firearms than off-duty police
officers.” This bill will pass, I guarantee it, and very soon, no less
than 34 of our legislators will be packing heat in Legislative Plaza.
For “protection,” no doubt.
The obvious question is protection from whom? Some pistol-packing
fat guy with his pants hanging below his waist? Themselves?
Or is that redundant?
Bruce VanWyngarden