“A Knoxville-based legislator, who moonlights as a farmer, is so angry over the Tennessee tourist’s gun arrest last month that his resolution condemns it as a ‘grave miscarriage of justice,” nypost.com reports, “and reminds New Yorkers to ‘drive carefully’ if we come visit.” A farmer? A hayseed dares to threaten Empire State urbanites with speed gun retaliation for the arrest, prosecution and possible incarceration of a Volunteer State nurse inadvertently packing heat? Yup. That would be ironically named Knoxville Republican representative Frank Niceley. Read the full resolution below . . .
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 585
By Niceley
A RESOLUTION urging the State of New York to use common sense and sound judgment in the disposition of the case against Meredith Graves.
WHEREAS, on December 22, 2011, Meredith Graves, a registered nurse, fourth-year medical student, and Tennessean traveled to New York City for a residency interview at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital on Long Island; and
WHEREAS, while in New York City, the soon-to-be doctor and her husband, Richard Disharoon, decided to pay their respects to the victims of 9/11 and attempted to enter the hallowed memorial at Ground Zero; and
WHEREAS, believing the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution was still in effect and possessing a fully authorized license to carry from the great State of Tennessee, Ms. Graves arrived at the memorial with her .32 caliber pistol stored in her purse, never imagining the mayhem that would shortly ensue; and
WHEREAS, as she quietly approached the sacred landmark, Meredith Graves caught a glimpse of a sign, warning, “No Guns Allowed,” and, as any law abiding citizen would do, she quickly reached out to a security guard and inquired as to the proper procedure for checking a firearm; and
WHEREAS, the guard directed her to a separate section and explained that she was in luck because it just happened to be “Law Enforcement Day; and
WHEREAS, with no reason to be concerned, Ms. Graves followed the guard’s instructions and respectfully asked a police officer the same question; and
WHEREAS, reacting with undue haste, the officer immediately arrested Meredith Graves on a weapons-possession charge, and she was subsequently held on a $2,000 bond; and
WHEREAS, despite having no prior criminal record, Ms. Graves must report to court on March 19, 2012, when these charges will be prosecuted by the Manhattan District Attorney, who plans to pursue a conviction on felony gun possession. This serious allegation carries a minimum sentence of three and one-half years; and
WHEREAS, clearly, this incident was simply an unfortunate misunderstanding and any attempt to pursue legal action against this devoted health care professional would be a grave miscarriage of justice; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, that we hereby urge the State of New York to use common sense and sound judgment in the disposition of the case against Meredith Graves.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we remind the citizens of New York, especially those residing in New York City, to drive carefully through the great State of Tennessee, paying extra attention to our speed limits.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City.