Find out more about Tennessee's government at congress.org State legislature page State Constitution Department of State website

Harold King [Message] Interim state coordinator Murfreesboro, TN 37130

Justin McCord (jbmccord) [Message] Interim state coordinator 2995 Pipkin Hills Dr. Spring Hill, TN 37174

 "The Sun never shined on a cause of greater worth."
Thomas Paine, Common Sense

February 2009

If you revere the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the principles of liberty upon which this country was founded; but see a national government exceeding its constitutional bounds with an interventionist foreign policy, burdensome regulations, suffocating taxes, and irresponsible spending; then please join Texas Congressman Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty. Dr. Ron Paul is a true statesman, a "Champion of the Constitution," a Thomas Jefferson of our generation.

The Campaign for Liberty needs you! Citizens like you help to govern the county, state and national parties. Party delegates make the rules, influence their peers, and choose candidates for the General Election! In every step of the process, it is essential that liberty-minded activists are engaged, active and numerous. Please sign up now with the Campaign for Liberty!

Thoughtfully consider how you can help to restore the Republic, preserve what freedoms we have, and reclaim those we have lost. Thomas Paine once said, "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it." Decide now to DO SOMETHING in the Campaign for Liberty. Decide now to devote some time each day or week in the cause of freedom. Decide now to be a person of influence in your precinct.

In these web pages, you will find educational material well worth reading, activist tools well worth your time, and a Local Coordinator Training Program well worth your efforts. Yes, this campaign will require time and effort. As Ron Paul said, "Elections are short-term efforts. Revolutions are long-term projects." But it will be worth it. Your neighbor cannot do it all. I cannot do it all. No single person can guarantee our liberties. However, many good citizens throughout the country, each doing a little, CAN have the impact necessary to sustain freedom and guarantee our liberties.

In this campaign, we shoulder a four-fold mission: recruit, train, equip, and mobilize.

Recruit. We must recruit our fellow citizens to join us in this effort. There are about 2250 precincts in Tennessee. We need at least one leader in each precinct, and preferably two or three. Invite your civic-minded friends to join this campaign. (They can browse this web site without joining.) If they agree with what they find here, then they will naturally be inclined to join.

Train. Once you have joined the Campaign for Liberty, become a Local Coordinator, and begin the LC Boot Camp (web pages that help you to understand how politics works here in Tennessee). You will not be able to complete the Boot Camp in a single sitting. It will require time and effort. Once completed, however, your research will become a gold mine of information you will be able to reference at will as you stand up for liberty in this campaign.

Equip. This web site will equip you to be an effective activist. It is an infrastructure that enables us to prepare for various activities that will promote liberty. It helps us coordinate our activities. It helps us to share information and encouragement.

Mobilize. When your help is needed, you will be invited (usually via email or by general announcement on this web site) to help. It may be to attend a rally, host a book club, walk your precinct, attend a political meeting, or talk to a legislator. Whatever it is, I hope you will embrace the opportunity with enthusiasm. And if you feel as though you are not doing enough, then organize something in your neighborhood, community, or county, and promote liberty.

A number of good people already are making good things happen--throughout the state. Please join us. Be a part of it. Make history.

JBMcCord

Bill Haslam Refuses To Complete Gun Survey! WHY? Posted by Matt Collins

Posted 10/31/10 Last updated 10/31/10

 Why is Bill Haslam running from Tennessee gun owners?

Just under two weeks ago the candidates for Governor were sent a 'right to keep and bear arms' survey by the Tennessee Campaign For Liberty. Interestingly, Mayor Bill Haslam has refused to return the survey. Why is that?

This causes many questions to be raised about Mr. Haslam's true positions. What is he hiding? Why is he scared to put into writing what he has already verbally committed to? Can voters trust Mayor Haslam to keep his word? Is he attempting to hide pro-gun control leanings?

Mayor Haslam's refusal to return the survey of basic questions about the right to keep and bear arms ought to be a warning to voters who care about their rights as guaranteed by both the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution, and the Tennessee Constitution. Refusal to return the survey shows both an arrogant, elitist, and lackadaisical mindset on his part and is also a great disservice to the People of Tennessee. Voters should be informed about candidates' positions on issues they hold dear, specifically rights so fundamental as the right to keep and bear arms. By denying knowledge of his true positions he is effectively shutting out voters from being able to make an informed decision.

But this is not the only survey he has refused to answer about the right to keep and bear arms; A disturbing trend of obfuscation indeed.

The survey issued by the TN Campaign For Liberty is 12 questions long, 2 of which seek a short answer, with the remaining 10 questions simply requiring a yes/no response. Topics include his intentions regarding firearms legislation, his understandings of both the US and TN Constitutions, and general attitudes about gun control.

The TN-CFL plans to release the responses from the Gubernatorial candidates of this survey on Monday November 1st.

The mission of the Campaign for Liberty is to promote and defend the great American principles of individual liberty, constitutional government, sound money, and free markets, by means of educational and political activity. More information can be found at the CFL website.

A copy of the survey sent to the Gubernatorial candidates can be found here:
http://www.tncampaignforliberty.org/misc/2010FirearmsCFLGovernorSurvey.pdf

A copy of Bill Haslam's campaign accepting and signing for the survey is here:
http://www.tncampaignforliberty.org/misc/ReturnreceiptfromHaslam%20ofc.PDF

Is Congressman Cooper scared of losing the election? Posted by Matt Collins

Posted 10/06/10 Last updated 10/07/10

This afternoon I received a call from the 202 area code. I normally let numbers I don't recognize go to voicemail, but seeing as it's the season for politics, and 202 is the DC area code, I decided to answer.

Unsurprisingly it was a poll. What was surprising however is that it was a professional Magellan poll, and even more surprising was that it was about the TN 5th district. It asked very specific questions about Congressman Cooper, Obama, Pelosi, candidate David Hall, healthcare, and cap & trade schemes.

Are the Democrats scared of losing this seat? Is Congressman Cooper worried about this election? Do they really think there is a risk that the 5th could swing? Why is an expensive and professional poll being conducted in a race that should be fairly obvious?

Congressman Cooper (pictured above) demonstrates the estimated size of his lead
or maybe he was telling tales about his lastest fishing trip

Traffic Camera Legislation Posted by jbmccord

Posted 03/08/10

An Initiative Measure

Be it enacted by the People of the great state of Tennessee

Be it proposed to be added as follows if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:

Prohibiting the Use of Photo Enforcement Systems.

A.  No traffic complaint, notice of violation or other legal form of civil or criminal charge or citation shall be issued or filed in the state of Tennessee for an alleged violation of this Title or of any other state, county or municipal law relating to the operation of a motor vehicle if the alleged violation was detected through the use of a Photo Enforcement System, as defined in subsection B of this section.

B. For purposes of this section, "Photo Enforcement System" means a device or system consisting of a radar unit or sensor linked to a (i) camera or other recording device that produces or is capable of producing one or more photographs, microphotographs, videotapes or digital or other recorded images of a vehicle's license plate or its operator or (ii) device that is capable of reading a motor vehicle's license plate or otherwise identifying a motor vehicle.

Justin McCord

Wake up Mr Steele, Ron Paul Won! Posted by Jeff Pedigo

Posted 02/21/10 Last updated 11/07/10

February 21, 2010

TO: Michael Steele, Chairman, Republican National Committee

Dear Mr. Steele,

I read with interest today many mainstream media articles about Congressman Ron Paul and his victory in the February 20, 2010 Conservative Political Action Conference's annual straw poll, Ron Paul won with 31 percent of the votes followed by Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney who garnered 22% and was the only other person with double-digits.

The conservative news channel Fox News repeatedly called it an "unscientific poll."  One internet news site FoxNews.com said it was, "not binding" and "not necessarily a good forecaster."  The site WashingtonPost.com said, "Be careful not to read too much -- or much at all -- into these results."

Mr. Steele, these results are significant.  This marks a passing of the torch from the big-government neo-conservatives of the George W. Bush era to the more constitutional conservatives of the Ron Paul rEVOLution era.  It is time that the core leadership of the Republican Party embrace Ron Paul's ideas and his supporters and throw off the shackles of the military-industrial complex.

This is the wake-up call.  Wake up Mr. Steele, embrace the rEVOLution or sit on the sidelines while the radicals that are currently in power send our country spiraling toward socialism and ultimately fascism.

Embrace the rEVOLution now and in November 2012 we can say Ron Paul won and the Republic won!

In liberty,

Jeff Pedigo

Finally proud to be a Republican!

TN Legislators: "Atty Gen should block federal health reform" Posted by Matt Collins

Posted 12/21/09 Last updated 12/29/09

TN Legislators:
"State Attorney General should block unconstitutional federally mandated health reform"

See the articles:
http://politics.nashvillepost.com/2009/12/21/thats-probably-not-gonna-happen
/
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091221/NEWS02/91221051/-1/RSS05a>
http://www.wsmv.c
om/politics/22029498/detail.html
http://www.tnreport.com/2009/12/reps-maggart-and-lynn
-ask-state-ag-to-intervene-in-federal-healthcare-legislation/
http://blogs.knoxnews.co
m/humphrey/2009/12/republican-legislators-to-ag-g.html

By the way, Rep Susan Lynn, one of the two legislators mentioned in the above articles, is the person who introduced the TN Sovereignty Resolution. If you want to e-mail her and thank her you can do so here: rep.susan.lynn@capitol.tn.gov

-Matt Collins
Former Vice Chair Davidson County / Nashville Republican Party
Vice Chair Republican Liberty Caucus of Tennessee
Coordinator Davidson County Campaign for Liberty
Member America's Future Foundation
Member Tennessee Liberty Alliance
Member Liberty on the Rocks

UPDATE (12/28/09):
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?fav=30816