Article

2015-04-09 -Land of the Free

Pub Governor BARS State Troopers From Providing Security For NRA Convention

[Daily Caller] Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Haslam shot down a request from state troopers to work security at the National Rifle Association's annual convention this weekend in Nashville.

Eight Tennessee Highway Patrol officers requested permission to work the event in their off-hours, but Haslam's administration denied that offer, citing the security gig would cost the state too much money. The troopers wanted to use their patrol cars during their time there, which the governor's office claimed was an expense the THP could not "recoup," according to the Associated Press.
A public relations missed opportunity. But of course if the imagery of Law Enforcement and the NRA is somehow politically disturbing, his actions are completely justified.
While state troopers are barred from providing security, the NRA is expected to pay over $200,000 to off-duty Nashville police officers to do the job, The Tennessean reports. Nashville's Democrat Mayor Karl Dean and his administration appeared to have no objection to city cops working there.

This isn't the only gun-related issue Haslam has addressed this week. On Monday, the Tennessee governor said he had "major concerns" about a guns-in-parks bill that was eventually passed by the state legislature. However, Haslam signed the bill into law on Tuesday.

The NRA convention is expected to draw over 70,000 attendees and will feature several GOP 2016 hopefuls, such as Jeb Bush and Scott Walker.
Haslam signed the new guns-in-employee-parking-lot law over the objections of the Chamber of Commerce. [Failing marks for vehicle gun placement in the foto]

Posted by Besoeker 2015-04-09 05:16|| || Front Page|| [11141 views ] Top

#1 I don't think they should be able to use the patrol cars either to work private security for an event.

Posted by chris 2015-04-09 05:31|| 2015-04-09 05:31|| Front Page Top

#2 Nothing but good can come from this.

Posted by Skidmark 2015-04-09 07:59|| 2015-04-09 07:59|| Front Page Top

#3 Haslam is a squish.

Posted by OldSpook 2015-04-09 08:12|| 2015-04-09 08:12|| Front Page Top

#4 Remember the 'off duty' cops in uniform working with DoT roadblocks to get 'voluntary' information? A lot of backtracking when it gave the appearance of law enforcement rather than the excuses that were offered justifying the events when it all came to light.

Posted by Procopius2k 2015-04-09 09:45|| 2015-04-09 09:45|| Front Page Top

#5 Once again proving that not all Pubs are on our team.

Posted by Merp 2015-04-09 10:39|| 2015-04-09 10:39|| Front Page Top

#6 I don't know much about Haslam.

Using the company vehicle to moonlight another job sounds out of bounds.

Then what if the vehicle driven by somebody officially off the clock is involved in an accident?

Local boys have it, and I get why they would ask, like getting the assignment to stand near football coach during a big game. Yeah, I'm working, but look at the view.

Posted by swksvolFF 2015-04-09 10:50|| 2015-04-09 10:50|| Front Page Top

#7 ...citing the security gig would cost the state too much money

That's not how police details work, at least not in MA. In this case the NRA would get a bill for the trooper's time, usually overtime, so it would not cost TN anything.

Posted by Raj 2015-04-09 11:01|| 2015-04-09 11:01|| Front Page Top

#8 Haslam was our mayor and is now our governor. He has done some things well; others not so well. It is as Oldspook says: "He is a bit of a squish."

Posted by JohnQC 2015-04-09 11:22|| 2015-04-09 11:22|| Front Page Top

#9 Who needs security at a gun show?

Posted by gorb 2015-04-09 12:09|| 2015-04-09 12:09|| Front Page Top

#10 A club (of which I am a member) puts on an Motorcycle Enduro every Spring in Idaho, Boise County. The County permit REQUIRES that we hire 2 officers and their official vehicles. We pay for both. It's not cheap but helps us, helps them.

We use the Officers for oversight of our traffic control and the County has them on hand during a busy Spring weekend and so can use them in case of any other emergencies if required.

Posted by tipover 2015-04-09 13:11|| 2015-04-09 13:11|| Front Page Top

#11 Who needs security at a gun show?

Publicly failing to provide it increases the need.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2015-04-09 13:12|| 2015-04-09 13:12|| Front Page Top

#12 I doubt that. Going criminal at a gun show is suicide.

Posted by gorb 2015-04-09 13:52|| 2015-04-09 13:52|| Front Page Top

#13 I wasn't thinking "criminal." More like "civil disturbance."

Posted by Pappy 2015-04-09 16:22|| 2015-04-09 16:22|| Front Page Top

#14 #6 I don't know much about Haslam.

I don't either, but his brother Jimmuh (owner of the biggest joke in American professional sports, the Cleveland Browns) is, candidly, an oleaginous scumbag.

Posted by charger 2015-04-09 16:43|| 2015-04-09 16:43|| Front Page Top

#15 Usually, there is a mechanism in place for the vendor (the NRA) to pay the agency for the work hours for both troopers and cars. The state police are probably self-insured and the insurance bill is included in the amount charged. The rationale is that the troopers may need the cars for traffic control at the event, the state gains some benefit for the travel to-and-from, plus the troopers have to respond to emergencies even if working off-duty. The denial of permission was probably about the politics of the NRA, not the actual work conditions, since troopers work off-duty to supplement their income all the time.

Posted by JC 2015-04-09 18:34|| 2015-04-09 18:34|| Front Page Top

00:33 EMS Artifact