Former resident says move justified
Dear Editor:
I was deeply, deeply saddened when, on a recent visit to my beloved hometown (for more than 60 of my 70 years), I bought a copy of The Daily Times and opened it to the front page lead story regarding a “Blount County Rally for the Second (Amendment).” The pull-out quote from Lt. Randy Alley of the Blount County Sheriff’s Office that “I heard a lot of people talking about how we needed to have something that said we were against gun control” certainly caught my attention.
Reading further, I see that Blount County Sheriff James Berrong and County Mayor Ed Mitchell are prepared to speak in support of the rally.
Additionally, on Page 5A, an article regarding a bill currently on the floor of the 108th General Assembly indicated that Sen. Doug Overbey, R-Maryville, is voting in favor of “law abiding citizens (having) a right to keep their gun locked in their vehicle no matter where they are parked.” This presumably includes schools, parks, restaurants bars, theaters, etc.
According to the front page “Rally” article, those who expected to attend should “dress professionally” and “should not bring rifles or shotguns” (AR-15’s included?) which are, curiously, “not allowed inside the courthouse or the ... adjacent city park.”
The irony — two other articles on the same two pages: “Shooting suspect released” records two incidents on the same day. One resulted in a critically injured man, the other led to two homicides and a suicide.
Also, “Some state police agencies waiting longer for supply ammunition” implies that the run on guns and ammunition by private individuals is resulting in trained professionals doing without.
If the culture of Blount County is truly reflected in these “news” stories, I am sorrowfully certain that my decision to reside elsewhere is completely validated. What a dreadful realization!
Marilew Clark Rudisill
435 Beverly Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
