Stupid Law

Everybody seems to have one, usually more than one. Yeah, you thought you knew what I was going to mention, until I said that usually it was more than one. Actually, you would have been close.

Arms? Fingers? Toes? Televisions? Cars? No. I am not alluding to anything desirable or useful. I refer to idiots supposedly representing our interests. I speak of simpleminded politicians.

Here in Tennessee we may not have the most, but only because there are much larger states. On a per capita basis we must be a leading contender. Our “representatives” may have set a new standard for stupidity.

My Personal Embarrassment

Deborah Maggart is my state representative. Checking out the bills she sponsored in the latest session, one might come to the conclusion that she has some expertise in education, mental illness, taxes, the Constitution and such. Not really.

She is concerned with the safety of our children. She sponsored a bill that keeps local government from storing magazines or gun powder within a mile of a daycare center or school. Presumably, it is acceptable for private companies or individuals to do so.

It’s just a guess but she does appear competent to assign names to bridges and highways.

Miss Debbie joined with her peers to commit what may be the supreme act of legislative witlessness.

Specifically, the bill is an amendment to the Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39 – Chapter 17 – Part 362. Harassment.

(a)  A person commits an offense who intentionally:
(1)  Threatens, by telephone, in writing or by electronic communication, including, but not limited to, text messaging, facsimile transmissions, electronic mail or Internet services, to take action known to be unlawful against any person and by this action knowingly annoys or alarms the recipient;

Edited here for length and pertinence.

(4)  Communicates with another person by any method described in subdivision (a)(1), without legitimate purpose:
(A)  (i)  With the malicious intent to frighten, intimidate or cause emotional distress; or
(ii)  In a manner the defendant knows, or reasonably should know, would frighten, intimidate or cause emotional distress to a similarly situated person of reasonable sensibilities; and
(B)  As the result of the communication, the person is frightened, intimidated or emotionally distressed.

Back to the real world

It seems impossible to write a bill with a broader brush. Particularly given the animus of present public discourse, is there any comment or action to which this law could not be construed to apply? I would not recommend spending wasting too much time musing on that question.

I considered not mentioning this and holding my home state up to such ridicule. Then I saw it as a story on a national newscast. Maybe I should take this as an opportunity to feel better about myself; to see myself as superior to the bozos that elected this bunch from their midst.

Many of you may be familiar with our new governor’s family business. It is Pilot, by far the largest company in the business of operating truck stops along our nation’s highways. I should think a person operating a billion dollar business would have vetoed such a monstrosity. Silly me.

Since the state is already a laughing stock, my actions cannot possibly put it in a worse light. This law should be challenged and the remnants hung around the necks of those responsible. Having been disappointed in my home state with some frequency, it may not be challenged if I fail to do so. Here is my attempt to challenge this embarrassing, ridiculous law. Come and get me. I am putting myself in jeopardy of a year of imprisonment and a $2,500 fine.

Blacks can certainly claim that the flag above leads to emotional distress. So can any true American; anyone of normal human sensibility. My calling it a symbol of treason should piss off everyone else. So there, I admit to the proscribed action and to the illegal nature of the symbol.

Before signing off let me attend to two details. That flag is not the flag of the Confederacy. It was Lee’s battle flag. Few worshipers of it know that little tidbit of history. The other detail has to do with the title of the act. It covers harassment. Almost everyone mispronounces the word. It springs from the same root as the words to harry, harried, harrier (as in the vertical take-off jet fighter) and my own surname, Harris. The emphasis is on the initial syllable: har’ ass ment.

If you found this educational, edifying, interesting or otherwise worth your time, this geezer would appreciate a little supplement to those Social Security checks, They forgot to factor in the cost of publishing a blog. I would like to continue being able to afford my daily cup of coffee and pound of caviar.

Thank you.

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Tagged as: animus, battle, blacks, bridge, challenge, children, confederacy, constitution, daycare, deborah, embarrass, flag, gun powder, harassment, harried, harrier, harris, harry, highway, idiot, internet, laughing stock, Law, lee, maggart, pilot, politician, representative, ridicule, school, silly, stupid, tennessee, treason