Category Archives: Freedoms / Rights

Tennessee’s restaurant and club owners rejecting new gun-carry law

By thecodepounder | Published June 17, 2009

Tennessee’s restaurant and club owners are rejecting the state’s new “booze it and shoot it” law in droves by establishing policies for their business(es) that prohibit the carrying of firearms on the premises.  Many are concerned with the obvious (well, obvious to everyone but the NRA’s lobbyists and the lawmakers who take their money, er [...]

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Tennessee House votes to override guns-in-bars veto

By thecodepounder | Published June 4, 2009

The Tennessee House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to override the governor’s veto of the so-called “guns in bars” bill.  The Senate is expected to vote on the override this morning.
As I’ve said before, I’m a huge supporter of the 2nd Amendment (indeed, the whole of the U.S. Constitution, for that matter), but at some [...]

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Bush-Gore lawyers work together to overturn California’s Prop 8

By thecodepounder | Published May 27, 2009

CBS News:
Opposing attorneys in the 2000 election fight for Florida – David Boies, who represented Al Gore, and Ted Olson, George Bush’s lawyer and later the U.S. Solicitor General – are teaming up to ask a federal court to throw out California’s ban on same-sex marriage.
The two filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of two [...]

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California’s Prop 8 stands; look for Equal Protection challenge

By thecodepounder | Published May 26, 2009

Opponents of California’s biggoted Proposition 8, which bans equality for same-sex couples in the state, have lost an important battle, but may yet win the war.

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Nashville schools sued over block on gay web sites

By thecodepounder | Published May 20, 2009

Metropolitan Nashville and Knox County school districts are being sued for blocking so-called “pro-gay” web sites. The school districts do not block so-called “anti-gay” websites.

Also posted in Education, Nashville, Social Commentary, Tennessee, Wacky Shit | | Leave a comment

Tennessean: Veto the gun bill, Governor

By thecodepounder | Published May 15, 2009

The Tennessean:
The bill proponents will tell you, Governor, that more guns make bars and restaurants safer, but they have no data to back up these claims.
The data is solid when it comes to police reports, which can tell you what happens when people enter drinking establishments with a gun.
Governor, Tennesseans are outraged that this bill [...]

Also posted in Family, Government / Law, Nashville, Politics, Social Commentary, Tennessee | | 1 Comment

Maine joins ranks of States recognizing equality in marriage

By thecodepounder | Published May 13, 2009

I’ve been out of town and/or out of the loop for the better part of the last two weeks, so it’s no surprise that I missed this: Maine has become the 5th state to allow same sex marriage.
Governor John Baldacci:
“In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” Baldacci said [...]

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Adventures in Math & Marriage

By thecodepounder | Published May 13, 2009

Excellent article in the Skeptics Society’s eSkeptic for Wednesday, May 13th, 2009, Adventures in Math & Marriage or, Why Gay Marriage Does Not Decrease Straight Marriage.

Also posted in Government / Law, Politics, Skepticism / Rational-Critical Thought | | Leave a comment

Tennessee to begin random drug testing of students in 6-12 grades?

By thecodepounder | Published April 28, 2009

A bill before the Tennessee legislature would allow random drug testing of any students engaged or seeking to become engaged in voluntary extracurricular activities.
The Tennessean:
HB 1508/SB 0074, sponsored by Rep. Les Winningham, D-Huntsville, and Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, goes before key committees this week.It would give the drug-testing authorization to local school districts and target [...]

Also posted in Crime and Punishment, Education, Family, Psychology / Human Nature, Social Commentary, Tennessee | | Leave a comment

Atheists and other freethinkers are coming out and speaking out

By thecodepounder | Published April 27, 2009

Excellent piece by Laurie Goodstein, writing in yesterdays New York Times, More Atheists Shout It From the Rooftops:
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Two months after the local atheist organization here put up a billboard saying “Don’t Believe in God? You Are Not Alone,” the group’s 13 board members met in Laura and Alex Kasman’s living room to [...]

Also posted in Atheism, Church and State, Family | | Leave a comment

Plan B to be available to 17 year olds

By thecodepounder | Published April 23, 2009

Good first step an undoing Reverend Bush’s restrictions limiting the sale of the (non-abortive, sorry, but those are the facts) contraceptive to those over the age of 18.
Associated Press:
The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday it would accept, not appeal, a federal judge’s order that lifts Bush administration restrictions limiting over-the-counter sales of “Plan B” [...]

Also posted in Education, Government / Law, Health / Medicine, Men / Women, Privacy, Religion, Social Commentary, Truth / Half-truths / Damned Lies, Wacky Shit | | Leave a comment

Connecticut legislature codifies legality of same-sex marriage

By thecodepounder | Published April 23, 2009

Associated Press:
A decade-long battle for marriage equality in Connecticut ended late Wednesday when the General Assembly voted to update the state’s marriage laws to conform with a landmark court ruling allowing gay and lesbian couples to tie the knot.
Wow. Reason. Cool.
In an effort to appease some gay marriage foes, lawmakers amended the bill [...]

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