Town Meeting In Joelton Tennessee

Town Meeting In Joelton

A Town Meeting Done The Right Way On January 13, 2000, Councilwoman Brenda Gilmore met with some of her constituents at the "Academy of Self-Preservation" in Joelton, Tennessee. This meeting was held to hear complaints and possible solutions to a neighborhood problem regarding the discharge of firearms. The problem stems from a resident Mr. John Bowers, who has a firing range in his back yard. This is only about 50' from neighbors homes. Concerns regarding safety and noise were voiced during the meeting. Mr. Bowers lives on Birdwell Road and uses his firing range for pistol, rifle, and automatic firearms testing and practice. In addition to Mr. Bowers shooting, he allows friends to use his range for their own use. As a result, certain neighbors find it offensive because of the noise and potential "wild-fire" rounds. Mr. & Mrs. Crabtree, related stories of broken windows in some of her rental properties. She also told of a hunter who shot a rabbit only 18' from her home. Other residents related similar stories regarding hunters who come onto their land uninvited. These problems were unrelated to Mr. Bowers shooting but, were voiced as a part of the total problem. Councilwoman Gilmore said that the problems with hunters need to be relayed to T.W.R.A. [Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency]. Nashville Metro Police Officer J. Huffine who attended the meeting to try and answer questions regarding police actions, agreed with Councilwoman Gilmore regarding hunters. " Metro police have jurisdiction in certain areas but T.W.R.A. is the proper department to contact regarding hunters." A neighbor Mrs. Crabtree questioned why she has had so little response when she has called Metro police? Officer Huffine responded "at certain times of the day, our department is thin. This is especially true at night. We have to make certain priorities where we respond because we are short on officers." Mike Ridings who is president of the Davidson County Sportsman's Club offered an alternative that would help. He suggested that shooters join his club that has an adequate firing range. Some people at the meeting voiced their opposition that there should not be a need to pay money to join a club when they are allowed to shoot in their own back yard. Others felt that discussion about joining a club was tacky since the meeting was held on the premises of an "indoor shooting range" that offers a membership. However, others said that bringing up the information about his club could be considered an alternative for the solution. Curing the verbal discourse in the meeting, Councilwoman Gilmore took control. She allowed attendees to speak only after they raised their hands and were acknowledged by her to speak. This allowed the meeting to flow properly without interruptions or anger. Without oversight by Councilwoman Gilmore, this meeting could have gotten out of control. This is the way politicians use to do their job. Small community meetings where they could hear the problems and come to some solution for the neighborhood. The majority of "Town Meetings" conducted by politicians these days are prompted more for publicity for the politicians than for solutions. This was NOT the case with Councilwoman Gilmore. She did not use this meeting for her own agenda. She also let the attendees know that she had no intention of trying to reduce or eliminate the right of gun ownership or gun use on private land. Just imagine in other parts of America a politician overseeing a meeting regarding the use of firearms on private land and not pushing for more gun control legislation. Councilwoman Gilmore, without trying to focus on her own political agenda, picked up supporters from this meeting. Again, this is the way public servants use to win elections. Not by how much money they could get but how they handled the problems affecting their communities. As she stated during the meeting " I am sure you all will agree that as a Councilwoman, I need to hear all of the constituents. Let's see if we can come up with a solution to this problem without having to effect more legislation. We also must remember that a solution should also take into account that Joelton will not be the same in 15 years. It will only get bigger and out solution needs to take that into account." After Councilwoman Gilmore addressed the above statement, Jerry Strange agreed saying " There are enough laws on the books already ". Mr. Larry Thomas said what the majority of people felt at the meeting, " Maybe the answer is consideration of the neighbors." Mr. Bowers then spoke up and said " I don't want to upset anyone. I have tried to work with my neighbors in the past and I will try and do it again. Maybe this time it will work out to everyone's benefit." At this point Mrs. Crabtree questioned the use of full automatic weapons on his property. Mr. Bowers responded that all of the full automatic weapons use were " Metro police officers who are shooting their own issued guns. " Mr. Bowers was questioned about selling firearms out of his home as a business. "There are no firearms sold from my home. I sell over the Internet and bring the weapons to United Parcel Service for delivery." At this point Councilwoman Gilmore said to the gathering, "Do you want me to go over the suggestions you all made here tonight or; do you want the parties to try and work it out themselves?" The consensus was to let the parties work out the problems between themselves. Councilwoman Gilmore offered a sixty (60) day "cooling off" period. After that time there would be another meeting to see how the parties feel. The meeting was then adjourned. I was glad I attended this meeting. Whatever happens with the issues will probably be worked out just fine between the parties. However, what kept popping up in my mind during this meeting was all of the problems that the main stream constantly pushes on the radio, TV, and newspaper. Race relations and how bad it has become. At this meeting in the middle of the South, you had an African American overseeing a meeting of a 100 % white crowd. They all listened and respected Councilwoman Gilmore. How bad and destructive firearms are for Americans. Here you had a meeting about problems relating to firearms but, you did not have one person at this meeting who suggested restricting individual use or possession of any firearms or advocating more restrictive gun laws. Even the people who spoke about having windows shot out, animals killed on their fences cut by hunters, did not advocate placing restrictions on firearms ownership or use. Everyone seemed to agree with the comments of Mr. Thomas regarding "consideration" of neighbors. What evolved during this meeting was probably the largest problem affecting Americans. Respect and respecting the rights of others. Treat others as you would want to be treated. With all of the problems that face out country, I believe that out Founding Fathers smiled over this meeting. It was free of mandates, free of contempt of each other, free of more restrictive legislation. This was the way Americans use to solve their problems. © Legally Armed, by Gene Kennedy

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