Hal Ferry Wants a Job

  by Jeanette - February 26th, 2010 - 2:37 pm| Word on the Street | one comment

Latest figures from the state indicate that one in ten people is unemployed.

That’s not good news for graduating college seniors entering one of the most sour job markets in years.

Hal Ferry knows this only too well.

The 27 year old graduated from Southern Illinois University in December 2008 with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance.

He said he would like to work for a company as a financial analyst, but so far nobody is hiring.

For the last year and a half he has worked odd jobs, put out resumes, got married and moved to Nashville.

On a frigid February morning Messed Up caught up with the job applicant. He was wearing a suit and carrying a brief case containing resumes. He was also holding a large, hand painted sign that said:

FINANCE GRAD. NEEDS A JOB.

Cars on Broadway passed by Ferry. Some honked. Many stared. He said people shouted words of encouragement.

Andy asked Hal Ferry why he’s doing this. Here’s his reply:

“Being new to the area, I have no contacts, and don’t know which businesses are big down here. So I just figured this was a way to go, to set myself apart from the crowd.”

Andy also asked Ferry what his wife thought about his guerilla marketing plan. Ferry said she thought it was stupid.

Andy told Ferry to tell his wife that he will be on That’s Messed Up, telling his story before potentially hundreds of thousands of employers.

How stupid is that, Andy asked. Hal just laughs.

Hal’s efforts out on the street did pay some immediate dividends.

He told Messed Up that an insurance man offered him a job as a night security guard. Ferry said he took the job, which still allows him to continue his job search by day.

If you are interested in checking out Hal Ferry’s Resume, click here.

Neely’s Bend Walking Track – Part II

  by Jeanette - February 25th, 2010 - 2:19 pm| Updates | no comments

Response to Wednesday’s story, Neely’s Bend Walking Track, from property owner Phillip Mitchell:

Hello Andy: I am the owner of the property on 700 Marlin Pass that has been encroached upon by the school walking track and playground. Upon taking ownership of the property in question and preparing its clean-up and restoration from the small landfill and brush pile it had become, the encroachment was discovered. After contacting Mr. Edgings with the Metro school systems engineering/construction dept., after notifying him of the problem, he met with me and brought a survey plan that showed the known discrepancy years earlier. I had also contacted my councilman (Jim Forkum) in the matter and offered to sell Metro Schools AT MY COST (Est. $4500.00 to $5000.00), lease, or partial trade for similar property connected to my property, the portion of property that the track was on so that the school and community could keep the track and surrounding equipment. Jim Forkum asked Mr. Edgings to work out the deal with me on the property. Instead Mr. Edgings decided to demolish and spend who knows how many thousands of TAX PAYERS dollars on the proposed track and playground demolition and relocation. The fence alone, currently installed was estimated by my local fencing contractor to cost over $4,000. Although my major concern was liability, the Metro schools legal dept. would not provide me a waver of liability for use of the property until the problem was resolved, thus the fence was installed. I was told that the fence installed was temporary until a resolution was reached. What’s messed up is that with the failing economy and budget shortfalls in the school system, the Metro school administration is willing to spend big money instead of taking the simple road to fix the problem. I was told by Mr. Edgings that the proposed purchase paperwork to acquire the property was “TOO MUCH WORK” and would have to be voted on three times by council members and the planning commission. NOW THAT’S MESSED UP!!

Messed Up Citation?

  by Jeanette - February 25th, 2010 - 11:00 am| Messed Up Email of the Day | one comment

Andy, I wanted to give you a that’s messed up story. Three weeks ago my 17 year old daughter found herself 180 miles from Nashville in treacherous road conditions due to an oncoming storm. She was driving on I40 and was moving at 50 mph in a 70 mph speed limit zone. Conditions had caused all traffic to slow down and she was moving with the traffic following at a safe distance. She hit a ridge of ice that caused her car to lose control and she went off the road into the divided median and hit a tree totaling her car and temporarily pinning her in the vehicle. No other cars were involved. On my way to the hospital to get her, I saw no less than 30 cars and trucks that had suffered the same fate. Lukily she was not seriously injured. When a THP officer finally made it to the scene he filled out a accident report but did not issue a traffic violation to my daughter. Two weeks later we get a letter from the department of Safety stating that they have penalized her with 4 points to her driving record. I called to dispute this as the only way she could have avoided the accident was to not have been there. I was disappointed to be told, and quite rudely that there is no appeal process for this situation. The reason for the accident was an act of God. It was not avoidable. I asked the people at the DOS if the resulting points would have occured if it suddenly began to hail and a large stone came through the windsheild and injured my daughter. They replied yes. As you probably know point marring the record of a young driver can have long lasting and financial effects. My daughter is a safe driver, a good student and has never had a ticket in her 2+ years of driving. This is a case of state government issuing unfair penalties and what is worse is that there is no process to appeal. There was no ticket issued, so we can’t go in front of a judge to plead her case. do you have any advice for us?

-Ron Brito

Neely’s Bend Walking Track

  by Jeanette - February 24th, 2010 - 3:47 pm| Construction, Neighbors, Schools, Weird | no comments

They say fences make good neighbors, but around Neely’s Bend School, a fence has confused many community members.

A resident who chooses not to be identified tells Messed Up that a fence was constructed this past fall directly across a popular walking track behind the elementary school. The fence stretches approximately 100 yards and cuts the walking track in two.

Messed Up goes to the school system and this is what Communication Director Olivia Brown told us:

“There is a walking track that’s been there for years. It is maintained by the school. There was a change of ownership in neighboring property last year, and the new owner contacted schools late in the fall and said that track was on his property, and he was concerned of liability if someone was injured on the track. So to answer his concerns, the district erected a fence to keep kids from straying over.”

Brown says the fence was put up with the idea that this spring the track would be reconfigured so that it completes a circuit all on school property.

When told of this, the resident told Messed Up he is pleased and looks forward to using the track when the weather warms up.

Messed Up Car Hops?

  by Jeanette - February 23rd, 2010 - 10:38 am| Messed Up Email of the Day, Word on the Street | no comments

Messed Up recieved the following anonymous e-mail:

The group of investors owning a number of drive ins have decided that, as of March 1st, all carhops must roller skate.

Exemptions have been granted to those who have been employed continuously for 4 years or more.

Emails have been circulated to these locations specifically stating that anyone who has a doctor’s note excluding them from skating may perform in other positions until they are cleared by a doctor to roller skate. No special effort is being made to provide these individuals with alternate means of income at their current locations.

Managers who attempt to schedule such employees are facing threats of reprimand. So essentially, employees who are incapable of rollerskating (though they otherwise perform their jobs satisfactorily) are being laid off without any compensation, and being replaced with new ones at a cheaper hourly rate in the name of company image. Even workers currently granted exemption from the lay off are are facing the eventuality of losing their livelihood as more people are found to replace them for less money. Of course this is “messed up,” but my question is this: is this legal?

Thank you for your time. I would like to remain anonymous, for the sake of myself as well as those with whom I am associated for fear of retaliation.

We ran this e-mail by the Better Business Bureau of Tennessee. This was their response:

This is a private company…they have a ‘theme’ service delivery that requires a specific talent/skill. If you don’t want to be a roller skating car hop, you can move to another job that does not require the skill/talent. Yes, you won’t make tips if you aren’t coming face to face with the customer who is impressed and decides to include a tip.

Kathleen Calligan, CEO
Better Business Bureau Nashville/ Middle Tennessee

Messed Up Bridge

  by Jeanette - February 22nd, 2010 - 4:04 pm| Public Safety | one comment

On February 15th, 2010, Ashley Harris was driving down Critz road in rural Williamson County. The 21 year old says that around 5:30 pm the road was icy and slippery.

The young woman says she was driving carefully and slowly as another motorist approached from the opposite direction.

As Harris approached Lewisburg Pike, there was a slight incline and bend in the road.

Harris taped the brakes slightly. That’s when the young driver said her car began to slide in slow-motion into the curve. Harris felt frightened as her car slowly slid off the roadway, which at this part of Critz road crosses over a creek.

The young woman says that’s the last she remembers until paramedics were standing over her in the ambulance.

An inspection of the bridge revealed a structure with no guard rails. In fact, Harris claims that if the bridge had guard rails, she would have had a low speed impact that might have dented her fender, but kept her car from falling upside down, 20 feet into the frigid waters below.

Harris and her passenger were belted in, which probably kept them alive until rescue crews arrived on the scene.

Harris’ passenger did not suffer serious injuries. Harris had a concussion. Her car was totaled in the wreck.

Now the young driver is calling for Thompson Station city leaders to put guard rails on the bridge so this doesn’t happen to anyone else.

“I cannot believe there is a bridge without a guard rail,” she told Messed Up.

“If they had a guard rail, it would not have been nearly as bad, maybe a fender bender,” she added.

Her older brother, Michael, echoes her concern: “I know they have had pot holes and roads are rough, but we need something in place so this doesn’t happen to anyone else, when it could be more tragic.”

At Andy’s request, City Administrator Greg Langeliers visited the bridge.

Andy has known Langeliers for several years, and he has always struck him as a can do type of administrator.

Langeliers told Messed Up point blank that the bridge needs a guard rail and the city will immediately begin looking into getting one in place.

“We have asked the town’s consulting engineer to look at it. We are evaluating where we would number one put it. Would we have to attach it to the side, or it is a narrow stretch of road, and we can’t have it sticking out,” Langeliers said.

Langeliers told Andy that there are plans in place to re-top Critz road, which is a major cut through to Spring Hill. He said that this guard rail will take precedence to that project.

“There are plans to rebuild this bridge, but we can’t afford to do it now. Hopefully we can design something to get the guard rails up and make this safe in the interim.”

Messed Up Warning

  by Jeanette - February 19th, 2010 - 1:55 pm| Customer Service, Email of the Day | no comments

Yesterday Messed Up recieved the following information from James and Juliet Mason via e-mail:

We write to express concern regarding a parking crime committed against us while attending the Schermerhorn concert on Saturday, January 23, 2010. As we attempted to park in front of the concert hall, we were told the lot was full and the attendant instructed to go further down 4th to a lot behind the hall for an opening. Upon arrival at the lot (Music City Coin), at 200 4th and Demonbreum, an attendant wearing a neck tag waved us in and charged us $10.00 to park. We then entered the concert hall passing by the Security Station and found our seats. At intermission, we decided to tour the building, since this was our first visit, and left about 9:00 PM. As we exited the building, we noticed that our car and the other ones in the lot in which we parked were all gone. We immediately went back into the Schermerhorn and spoke with the lady attendant at the Security Desk. We shared what had transpired with her and she immediately told us that she had seen a tow truck removing cars from the private lot across the street and that this was not the first time this crime had been committed supposedly by a homeless man pretending to be a parking lot attendant. We used her phone to report what we thought was a vehicle theft to the police department. When the police officer arrived, we explained the situation to him and he also stated that unfortunately we weren’t the only victims of this crime because it had happened many times before presumably by a homeless person. The nice and apologetic officer was kind enough to take us to the tow lot on Hermitage to retrieve our car and complete the incident report. Our primary concern is what corrective measures are being taken to prevent this scam from continuing, since it is a common occurrence known by Schermerhorn staff and the Police Department? Secondly, we are concerned that this is a scam that is larger than the suspected homeless man. It appears that the owner of the lot, the towing company and the so-called homeless person could all be working together. Certainly Mayor Dean would share our concern in wanting to correct this problem given his latest campaign to revitalize the downtown area.

Email of the Day: Peter and the Wolf

  by Jeanette - February 18th, 2010 - 4:01 pm| Messed Up Email of the Day | no comments

Rebecca Eidson in Gallatin wrote:

Andy, did you catch Mrs. Cheap’s article today tell readers that the Nashville Symphony is having two performances of Peter and the Wolf this coming Saturday? If you speak English you get to pay $12.50 to $25 per ticket and if you speak Spanish you get to pay $5 per ticket!!! How fair is that??? Most of the “layoff” and “job loss” has effected the English speaking population not the Spanish speaking! When do we get a break?? Is this discrimination or what???

Messed Up checked on this issue and the prices that Eidson quotes are correct.

English Narration l Spanish Narration

The question is why is it like this?

We called Alan Bostick, Sr. Director of Communications for the Nashville Symphony. Bostick says:

The first concert (the English Version) is a Pied Piper concert. One of four we have in a year. It is part of the Subscription Series.
The second show (the Spanish Version) is a non-subscription series. It is a new product for us. To have a second show is a business decision for us.
The Pied Piper series sells out each year. It has a dedicated audience year after year.

The second concert is something new, and when we do something new, we lower the price because we want people in the hall. We want to make it look and feel right. If we have no audience for the show, then why do it. Because the second show is not a part of the subscription series, we want to make sure it has a good audience.

Bostick tells Messed Up the cost differential has absolutely nothing to do with Spanish versus English versions. Bostick says it has everything to do with attracting an audience for the secnod show, and the symphony felt a discounted price would help generate the patronage necessary to accomplish that.

Hope that answers your question, Ms. Eidson.

State Cracks Down on Tombstone Company

  by Jeanette - February 17th, 2010 - 2:55 pm| Crooks, Customer Service | no comments

For more than 2 years, the Better Business Bureau and the State Attorney General’s office have been investigating a tombstone business and its operator.

The allegation: The owner, Marcus Jones, took orders from grieving families and never delivered the products promised.

On February 12th, the Attorney General’s office took the aggressive measure of banning Marcus Donnell Jones of Jones Memorial and Half Off Stones from doing business in Tennessee.

In addition the state leveled fines, court costs, and restitution that total close to 300,000 dollars.

In July 2008, Messed Up cameras spent days tracking down Mr. Jones.

We got involved after a Nebraska TV reporter told us the story of baby Nate. The one year old died and was buried. His parents ordered a Headstone from Jones Memorials. The Nebraska family paid thousands of dollars, but never got the child’s headstone.

Here is what Mr. Jones tells us on the front lawn of his North Nashville house:

“My business is like anyone else’s business. If I had anything to say to each one of those families, it is this: I have given it everything I got. To pick up materials, to go five hours away to get materials. To cut costs. To bring them good prices. Unfortunately, the economy has taken a bite out of my finances like everyone else’s. I have material on site that is there and ready to be carved. A lot of lettering that needs to be done, but personally, physically, emotionally, and financially, I am beat.”

“What would you say to a family like this? What would you say to Nate of Nebraska?,” Andy asked.

“Well not only to Nate in Nebraska, I am not going to make this about an infant’s headstone. I have plenty of families. I got people deceased for forty years, and some for two months. The point is, no business wants to close. If I could stay open I would. But right now, I can’t afford to stay open. I will say, I am sorry to many families. If there was a magic wand I could wave to make sure the work was done over night, I would, but unfortunately, there isn’t.”

We wanted to get an updated response from Mr. Jones. We called a number we had for him. A man answered and told us that this was his new number and he didn’t know anyone named Marcus Jones.

As part of his February 12th 2010 press release, State Attorney General Bob Cooper said this:

“We hope these judgments will serve as a reminder to businesses to practice good ethics and to be honest with their customers. We also encourage consumers to do a little research on the reputation of the companies by checking with such organizations as the Division of Consumer Affairs and the BBB before they purchase from a company.”

To read the entire press release, click here.

Carrying a Handgun in Belle Meade

  by Jeanette - February 12th, 2010 - 4:27 pm| Uncategorized | 6 comments

A Brentwood man is suing a State Park Ranger in Federal Court alleging his civil rights were violated.

This story stems back to a December 20th encounter at Radnor State Park. Leonard Embody was carrying an AK – 47 Pistol while walking the hiking trails.

Park Rangers detained the former Williamson County School bus driver until Metro Police and the ATF arrived.

After several hours, authorities determined the weapon was a “handgun” and didn’t violate the guns in parks law. Mr. Embody was released.

Now it’s happened again.

On January 23rd, Embody was stopped on Belle Meade Blvd near the Belle Meade Country Club.

A little after 5pm, it begins growing dark. Embody was carrying a black powder pistol, also known as an Army – Navy pistol, in his open hand.

Police detained Embody, who insisted that he was not breaking any laws. Police disagree.

Belle Meade has an antiquated gun law that was first created in the 1870’s. It was amended a hundred years later, but it still has many loopholes when it comes to weapons:

CHAPTER 6

11-602 WEAPONS AND FIREARMS GENERALLY

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry in any manner whatever, with the intent to go armed, any razor, dirk, knife blackjack, brass knuckles, pistol, revolver, or any other dangerous weapon or instrument.

Then there is this sentence:

EXCEPT THE ARMY OR NAVY PISTOL WHICH SHALL BE CARRIED OPENLY IN THE HAND.

It is this ordinance, specifically the above sentence, that Embody repeatedly cited to 3 Belle Meade officers as they worked to get to the bottom of the weapon-related stop.

After 15 minutes, Embody was released, gun in hand. He later filed a freedom of information request and recieved copies of the stop, including the dash cam footage.

Tim Eads is the Belle Meade Police Chief. Eads was frank when discussing the stop.

“He was walking on the boulevard carrying an old black powder pistol in his open hand. We have an outdated ordinance. He researched it, and he decided to test the law with that.

It was twilight and he was wearing reflective gear. He was in compliance with that. We got a call from a citizen. There was some concern over an individual walking near the country club with a handgun.

Corporal Dennis Goins approached, him told him to lay down the weapon, he complied. During the stop he was argumentative saying we had no reason to stop him. He was in compliance with carrying the type weapon in his open hand.

It was a brief stop, 16 minutes, according to video and audio. He did have a valid handgun permit. Then, they released him.

What is messed up? The public alarm. In today’s society, with all the shootings they have, I support 2nd amendment rights, but it comes down to being reasonable. He is near the country club. We don’t know. All we know is a man is walking openly displaying the gun. We don’t know his intent. People are coming out. They don’t know if the guy is there to shoot someone. Is he here to go on a rampage or car jack someone? There are factors, and if people see a firearm displayed, they become alarmed. It scares them.

Who is he what is his intent? We don’t know until we stop and have a conversation with him. I think it was to draw publicity to himself.

Law enforcement has the responsibility to protect the citizens.

What he is doing is reckless. He might not be paying attention. If he points that gun, officer will react accordingly.

Not just an officer, but another carry person might feel threatened and they might take action. It is reckless for him as well.”

Leonard Embody sees the incident much differently, and sends That’s Messed Up this statement:

“I think the police over-reacted. The police didn’t know the law in Belle Meade. They had no idea that the only legal way to carry in the city is openly in the hand. This is evidenced by Corporal Goins when he asked if I had a holster. The police report shows Officer Curter identified my pistol as a navy pistol before it was ran to see if the pistol was stolen. There is no requirement for anyone to have a handgun carry permit to carry in Belle Meade. TCA 39-17-1314(a) states that cities with ordinances in effect before April 8, 1986 can regulate possession, and transportation. Nashville Metro law office attorney, Sue Cain, gave her opinion on TCA 39-17-1314(a) last year. Her opinion states that Metro has a right to regulate arms because their law was in effect since 1966. The attorney general from the State has not issued any opinions concerning TCA 39-17-1314(a).

In the police’s over-reaction, civil rights were violated. It is illegal for a police officer to detain a person without reasonable, articulable suspicion that the person is committing a crime or will commit a crime. The complaint call about me didn’t complain about any crime being committed. The detention was illegal. The frisk was illegal. The search of my interior pockets was illegal. Running my pistol to see if it was stolen was illegal. The detention to somehow educate me was illegal.

In Belle Meade I carried the only pistol I could have legally carried, the army or navy pistol. I carried openly in my hand as required by Belle Meade law. If it were legal to carry another handgun I would have carried something else. If it were legal to have it holstered I would of holstered the handgun. The Belle Meade law is a copy of the 1871 Tennessee State law which made it very difficult to carry handguns. The Supreme Court of Tennessee found many times see Andrews v State that the handgun carried must be an army or navy and it must be carried openly in the hand, not in a holster. The City of Belle Meade updated their law in 1987 which is relatively short time ago and did not change the exception for the army navy pistol. They apparently like the law and I conformed to their ordinance.

I always carry a firearm where it is legal. It is cold outside right now, but when weather is nice I will carry my black powder pistol in my hand in Belle Meade. I have been stopped many times by police over the last 9 years. I have had a handgun carry permit. I’ve grown tired of the police vs. law abiding citizen routine. The police stop law abiding citizens with handgun carry permits, detain them, search them, ridicule or intimidate them, and let them go with a warning. I’d like to see that changed. I do not like carrying a voice recorder with me everywhere I go. Not only must I protect myself from thieves and robbers, but I have to protect myself from civil rights violations by police.

Yes, a Title 42 section 1983 civil rights violation will be filed against law enforcement for the illegal 2.5 hour detention at Radnor Lake.

I filed a complaint with the chief of police for the city of Belle Meade for violations of the fourth amendment and due process. I complained that the officer had no right to search my interior pockets during a terry stop. There was no reasonable suspicion I had weapons in my pockets. I should have been released immediately instead of the officers running my handgun to see if it was stolen. There was no reasonable articulable suspicion or probable that the handgun was stolen and it should not have been seized to run it. Police are not to play games with citizens. They shouldn’t go on fishing expeditions and the courts have ruled against these. I have heard nothing from the police chief as of today. If they came forward and apologized to me in a letter and promised to train their officers in handgun carry laws of the City I would let it go.”

We ask Chief Eads if he plans to apologize. He sends That Is Messed Up this statement:

“I seriously doubt he will let anything go. There is no money in it. I think if he was serious about changing the law he would have sued the State for one dollar and a change in the law. I would be happy to apologize if we did anything wrong, and the Officers do know the law. He was not cited for any crime, and they had just cause to briefly detain him. He can’t seem to understand that, and I don’t think he ever will. I should have a written response to his complaint by the first of the week or sooner.”

Click here to watch video of the entire traffic stop.

Or, you can read the below transcript documenting conversation between Embody and 3 officers. We have notated the time of each statement as it appears on the officer’s dash cam. The time is military time.

17:10:59 EMBODY: I am audio recording.
17:11:01 OFFICER: Great. Do you have any ID?
17:11:05 EMBODY: Yes, I have a hand gun carry permit in my right rear pocket.
17:11:08 EMBODY: I do not consent to a search that you just did.
17:11:10 OFFICER: It is not a search. It’s a pat down.
17:11:13 EMBODY: No, you just put your hand inside my pocket.
17:11:15 OFFICER: Put your hands down. Turn around.
17:11:20 EMBODY: You placed your hands inside my pocket.
17:11:24 OFFICER: I did place my hands inside your pocket.
17:11:27 EMBODY: That is an illegal search under the fourth Amendment.
17:11:28 OFFICER: Well whatever you say. I am not a lawyer. Maybe you are.
17:11:36 OFFICER: Why do you feel like you need to walk down the street with a pistol in your hand?
17:11:39 EMBODY: Self defense.
17:11:41 OFFICER: Have you been threatened sir?
17:11:43 EMBODY: No, I haven’t.
17:11:47 OFFICE: Any known enemies?
17:11:49 EMBODY: No, I haven’t.
17:11:57 EMBODY: I look at my watch and it is 5:20pm.
17:12:03 EMBODY: I have been detained now for up to five minutes in violation of no laws.
17:12:10 OFFICER: We have the right to investigate someone walking around with a gun.
17:12:14 EMBODY: It’s not against the law in the city of Belle Meade, chapter six, section 11-02.
17:12:19 OFFICER: Sir, we operate under state law, we operate under Nashville law, we operate under Belle Meade law.
17:12:25 EMBODY: Well there you go, and it is not illegal to carry a handgun in the hand openly.
17:12:31 EMBODY: I am audio recording right now.
17:12:33 OFFICER: That is absolutely fine.
17:12:35 EMBODY: Are you recording in your vehicles?
17:12:37 OFFICER: Everything is on. We know who you are.
17:12:41 OFFICER: Sir we respect that. Can you let him talk without interruption, a little courtesy? Thank you.
17:12:51 EMBODY: I’m being detained illegally.
17:12:53 OFFICER: So noted, sir.
17:13:05 OFFICER: It should be the same.
17:13:11 EMBODY: Am I free to go?
17:13:15 OFFICER: I don’t know that you have a valid handgun carry permit.
17:13:19 EMBODY: You have no reason to stop me. It is perfectly legal to carry a firearm inside the city…
17:13:22 OFFICER: No, sir, it is not.
17:13:23 EMBODY: Yes it is.
17:13:24 OFFICER: No sir it is not. Your interpretation of the law is entirely…
17:13:28 EMBODY: The law clearly states chapter six, section 11.02.
17:13:33 OFFICER: That has to do with military personnel.
17:13:35 EMBODY: No, it doesn’t.
17:13:36 OFFICER: Yes sir, it does. The law was written right after the Civil War. It was written in 1870—that was right after the Civil War.
17:13:48 EMBODY: Well it is not right after the civil war.
17:13:50 OFFICER: Well excuse me.
17:13:51 EMBODY: You are excused.
17:13:58 OFFICER: Do you have a holster?
17:14:00 EMBODY: No I don’t. It is illegal to carry in a holster in the city of Belle Meade. It is illegal. That is a loaded handgun, be careful.
17:14:16 EMBODY: Those “compression” caps are on there. Handle that carefully.
17:14:22 OFFICER: Really?
17:14:23 EMBODY: Yes, I don’t want you to shoot me.
17:14:25 OFFICER: Does it present a hazard to law enforcement?
17:14:27 EMBODY: It presents a hazard if he doesn’t know what he is doing.
17:14:32 OFFICER: If he does not know what he is doing, he can shoot someone with that handgun, it is a loaded handgun.
17:14:37 OFFICER: So if I am not a firearms expert, I could be in danger?
17:14:40 EMBODY: If he is not a firearm expert you could be in danger.
17:14:47 OFFICER: Where did you park?
17:14:50 EMBODY: You don’t need to know that information.
17:14:56 OFFICER: Do you want us to arrest you, is that what you want?
17:14:58 EMBODY: I don’t want to be arrested. I don’t want to be detained, and I’ve been detained now for nearly 10 minutes.
17:15:06 EMBODY: Can you tell me what law i violated?
17:15:10 OFFICER: You were walking down the street with a pistol in your hand. I had no idea who you are, where you were going, or what you were doing.
17:15:17 OFFICER: The law says i can stop someone carrying a weapon and find out what they are doing. That is what the law says.
17:15:23 EMBODY: You need reasonable suspicion…
17:15:24 OFFICER: I have plenty of reasonable suspicion. You are the only person I have ever seen walk down this boulevard in the 24 years with a handgun.
17:15:31 EMBODY: In the city of belle meade it is perfectly legal to carry in an open hand an army / navy model pistol, and it has been the law for 140 years. There is no reasonable suspicion to stop me and no probable cause to hold me you need to let me on my way.
17:18:50 OFFICER: You have no say in it.
17:18:52 EMBODY: Not right now, in federal court I might.
17:18:59 OFFICER: You are going to get hurt. You can’t walk around brandishing a firearm.
17:19:02 EMBODY: I was not brandishing a firearm.
17:19:03 OFFICER: Yes sir that is what I saw you doing.
17:19:08 EMBODY: I didn’t point it at anyone or display it in a manner that is austentatious.
17:19:34 OFFICER: You are aware that if anyone felt threatened, by the weapon you have, they have 365 days to file an order to prosecute you under the law?
17:19:43 OFFICER: And you understand that if someone feels threatened by you under state law, they can shoot you?
17:19:50 EMBODY: Not if i am carrying the weapon…
17:19:54 OFFICER: That doesn’t matter. I’m telling you under tn law, if someone feels threatened by you and your firearm they can shoot you.
17:20:02 EMBODY: Okay.

We also talked to Williamson County Schools. They say that Embody was employed as a bus driver from September 4th, 2008, until he resigned on January 26th, 2010, only 3 days after the Belle Meade gun stop.

Who do you agree with?

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