Tennessee newspapers are doing a series of surveys of gubernatorial candidates, and on January 10, published their first survey of the series, on guns. The entire survey and results are in a PDF file HERE.
I will look at the questions and the candidates' answers, and rate them from the viewpoint of gun rights. The ratings are on a -3 to +3 scale, and are based on the text of the candidates' answers to the questions below. My scoring is based on my subjective analysis of their answers. You are encouraged to go to the newspaper results and decide who you think is the best candidate.
From the viewpoint of gun rights, Ron Ramsey is the clear winner, and is well out front in upholding gun rights. He was rated down one point for his answer on the handgun-carry database, because his answer was not completely clear.
Mayor Bill Haslam of Knoxville, along with the three other Republican and the three Democratic candidates all answered the survey. The other candidates are Bill Gibbons (R), Jim Kyle (D), Kim McMillan (D), Mike McWherter (D), Ron Ramsey (R), and Zach Wamp (R), Chattanooga
Individual questions were scored, based on their perceived friendliness to the Second Amendment gun rights, and each candidate's scores were summed up. Overall scores ranged from +11 for Ramsey to -12 for Gibbons and the three Democrats. Results are tabulated below.
Haslam, in a second place tie with Wamp, was rated down because of his position on guns in parks.
Wamp joins Haslam and all except Ramsey in being willing to deny Second Amendment rights in city parks. In the article, he states,
If a local government wants to opt out, they should be allowed to.
Here are the questions taken from the News-Sentinel/Tennessean/Commercial Appeal:
1. The candidates were asked if they support or oppose a bill to allow handgun carry in places that serve alcohol.
2. The candidates were asked if they support or oppose repealing the law that allows guns to be carried in state parks, and removing from local governments the opt-out provision of the law.
3. The candidates were asked if they support or oppose legislation requiring businesses to allow employees with HCP's to lock guns in cars in employer parking lots.
4. The candidates were asked if they support or oppose legislation to close the carry permit records to the public, and to prohibit posting a searchable database of carry permit holders on the Internet.
| Candidate | Overall | Q 1 | Q 2 | Q 3 | Q 4 |
| Ramsey | +11 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +2 |
| Haslam | +6 | +3 | -3 | +3 | +3 |
| Wamp | +6 | +3 | -3 | +3 | +3 |
| Gibbons | -12 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 |
| Kyle | -12 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 |
| McWherter | -12 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 |
| McMillan | -12 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 |
Photo courtesy Oleg Volk
For more info: Knoxnews.com
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See also Examiner David Codrea's article, Honest advice from experts: Get a gun to protect yourself from criminal violence
and
Examiner Kurt Hoffman's article, 'Licensed' defensive handgun carry: Are we doing it wrong?
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