News Stories

TAG Promotes Bill on State Sovereignty

A bill on State Sovereignty for Tennessee is again at the forefront. State Sovereignty is about Tennessee’s right to self govern against federal government encroachment on rights the U.S. Constitution gives to the states alone.

Tennessee State Attorney Skrmetti claims that 2024 will be “a year of clarity” in which Tennessee will take the lead in “pushing back against the expanding powers of the federal government.” Some of those areas are social media health threats to children and stopping transgender medical procedures on minors. ¹

Changing federal law is addressed in federal court, and our Attorney General is indeed taking the lead. However, our AG points out it is our elected officials that make the decision on what policy the citizens of Tennessee want. And to that end, the people decide. So, how does that happen?

Usually, the federal government sends out some law or mandate . When it deprives life, liberty or property, the people rise up and demand relief. Our General Assembly only meets the first 4 months of the year. While a Special Session can be called, we saw during Covid it took 18 months after the emergency began for them to meet and draft protective legislation.

A new bill on State Sovereignty speeds up the process. SB2058 ²

This bill will provide for a committee that meets regularly throughout the year to review federal acts or laws that violate Tennessee’s Constitution by oppressing our citizens. The Tennessee Constitution rejects a doctrine of nonresistance, therefore, the G.A. has a mandate to act. They will have several options with this bill including issuing a Resolution of Noncompliance.

The sponsor of the bill, Senator Adam Lowe, says “Now more than ever, state sovereignty seems to be our only hope at establishing a healthy balance with our federal counterparts. This bill, in addition to my “Made in Tennessee” bill, will allow us to put substantive action into place to monitor when the state of Tennessee should flex its authority to manage its business.”

Tennessee Action Group of Fentress County met with legislators for months and assisted in drafting the bill. The bill has great traction and is barely out the gate. We are proud to continue our mission enjoining all our efforts towards protecting and supporting the state of Tennessee and its citizens. For article references, please see www.tennactiongroup.org.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/22jtn88nsulyqt5fp1d8i/Interview-with-TN-AG-Skrmetti.docx?rlkey=vj9egankedlhafrclegfpdylp&dl=0 The article is behind a paywall. Original article is at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/article/in-the-foxhole-tennessee-takes-on-biden-admin-wall-street-big-tech-5557325
https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB2058

ARE YOU READY FOR 2024?

WELCOME TO 2024 !!….it’s going to be a bumpy ride…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vEEh0GF_C8 But we will do it together.

The past year gave us a chance to breathe a bit after covid, and then took it away with a NEW insanity every day, if you were following the news. It’s hard to keep up, and many have stopped trying. That’s ok. We understand. We are watching Ukraine, Israel, the financial market, the medical market, the food market and a whole bunch of other “stuff.” And struggling with indigestion quite a bit…

However, TAG is about TENNESSEE! So get ready, we have a lot coming up during the 2024 sessions!

TAG has done a deep dive into nullification- state resistance to federal overreach. We are following last year’s bill–HB0726.  It made it through the first house committee, and did not get a second in the senate committee. It can be reintroduced again this year.

We spend months reading up on nullification, doing a time-line from 1803 to present, including SCOTUS cases and multitudes of 45-page law reviews. Tennessee needs to make a stand against federal encroachment and a campaign is brewing across the state with grassroots groups, including TN Citizens for State Sovereignty (TNCSS) https://tncss.substack.com/.

TAG will also follow updates on education. It looks like we have about lost the fight… SEL- social emotional learning is another version of CRT- critical race theory. While CRT has been outlawed by our general assembly in 2023, it lives and breathes as SEL and is pervasive in the schools. It is a marxist agenda and folks, in our opinion, our children have been sacrificed on the altar and there is no relief. School choice is another brick on that road, because what the government funds it controls. If you expect the government, that has brought us thus far, to educate your children any better than they are handling ANYTHING then think again. This has been in the planning for a long time, and it is coming to fruition. We will try to stick our proverbial fingers in the dyke.

You can follow the same website we will from a presentation this week by Tiffany Boyd of www.freeyourchildren.com. If you are game for a deeper dive, James Lindsay, of New Discourse is great, also. He explains all the marxist influence of current education. And as we stated on FB, if you cannot understand there is a problem, it may be because you are too well trained from all our own education- believe and obey the authorities and “experts.” I hope you see where they got us thus far.

These are not the only issues we will be following, and as the bills “hit the fan” this month (cough cough) we will update hard and heavy.

We will be in Nashville each week starting around the end of the month, most probably Wednesdays. If you want to go you are welcome anytime. You must contact us via email — TNActionGroup@protonmail.com. We leave early, 7a.m.-ish and return 6p.m.-ish. It is a long day, but we cruise and see all the representatives we can all day long.  This will be brief. There will be plenty of activity and information SOON.

Hope to see you Thursday, January 18th, at El Azul for our monthly meeting.

Try That in a Small Town…or what’s happening in Fentress County library?

Try That in a Small Town,” is a song by Jason Aldean of what can what happen in a small town over bad behavior. The nuggets of truth add to the humor.

What about Fentress County? Have we escaped the craziness of the “blue” states? What about Tennessee’s own “blue” cities? Oh, you mean places like Nashville and Memphis? Well, just try that in a small town. Okay.

One of the worse horrors of the last 3 years or so is the blatant and continuous public assault on our children. The media and airwaves have exploded with what used to be X-rated content. It is becoming normal. That’s the plan. It’s called “sexual grooming.” Legally, the American Bar Association defines sexual grooming as, “a preparatory process in which a perpetrator gradually gains a person’s or organization’s trust with the intent to be sexually abusive.”¹ Sexual abuse is not just physical, it is also introducing words, pictures and actions that are not age appropriate.

So it’s not just from a person, it can be an organization. Like the charitable foundation of assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky of Penn State University. The term “grooming” was introduced into the public vocabulary after he was convicted of the sexual abuse of boys participating in his charitable foundation. ²

As far back as 2006, the professional medical, “Journal of Sexual Aggression” indicates there are many types of grooming including “grooming of the environment.”³ That means creating an environment for a child that normalizes adult themes.

Should we be concerned in Fentress County? Are people or places introducing things of a sexual nature that are not age appropriate? Well, here’s another question: Are you comfortable offering free condoms at your public library on open shelving between the front desk and the children’s section? The library personnel report that they are recipients of donations from an organization called Operation Sharing Tennessee. The donations are free but must be given away to the public. So if you want free handouts, you must conform to their “rules.” Sounds fair, just do as you are told and you get free stuff. This is a step up from lollipops. Good thing they did not require show and tell.

Who is really behind this? Operation Sharing Tennessee is a Facebook page whose website redirects to Appalachian Life Quality Initiative, an arm of Alliance for Better Nonprofits who is a part of the United Way of Greater Knoxville. All of these are non profits, and a great place to funnel money by people who have an agenda and want to get out a message. The mission of Alliance is “collective impact” and success is measured by “social change.”⁴ They do not define what social change is. However, their resources include “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion,” the very definition of critical race theory which our Tennessee general assembly outlawed in schools and, governments across the country are demanding the deletion of in public organizations and higher education schools. Do the ends justify the means? Is getting free “stuff” worth opening the door to whatever anyone wants to introduce? Should we consider the source? Check out Fentress County Library where you can get your free bag of chips, vitamin water, and condoms. There are plenty.

References:

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_interest/child_law/resources/child_law_practiceonline/child_law_practice/vol-34/november-2015/understanding-sexual-grooming-in-child-abuse-cases/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/protecting-children-from-sexual-abuse/202010/how-to-recognize-the-sexual-grooming-of-a-minor

https://www.nationalcac.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Sexual-grooming-of-children-Review-of-literature-and-theoretical-considerations-Craven-2006.pdf

htt ps://www.betternonprofits.org/about

Gov. Lee Calls Special Session For Gun Control

Gov. Lee Calls Special Session For Gun Control – State Sovereignty Now At Risk (Op-Ed)

submitted by Anne Featherston

Read Full Article at Tennessee Conservative News

This week in Nashville, Governor Lee has called the Tennessee General Assembly back into session to create legislation for gun control. Why?

Gun control issues heated up in Tennessee March 6 with a shooting in Nashville at C ovenant school that killed 6 people. Since the General Assembly (G.A.) was still convened, Governor Lee asked them to consider gun restrictions called Red Flag laws. The G.A. refused.

This drew Tennessee onto a national scene on April 6, when 3 Democrat house representatives (now known as the “Nashville 3”) d isrupted the House floor in protest resulting in hundreds, if not thousands of young people protesting in Nashville. (Universities shut down classes so they could attend). Many of those protesters were also from out of state.

By April 10, Governor Lee had a 13-page proposal pushing “extreme risk” order of protection (ERPO) aimed at “substantially changing Tennessee’s criminal and mental health codes and in effect, implementing ‘Red Flag’ laws.” This type of law “allows law enforcement officials, household and family members, and others to petition a judge to issue an order removing firearms from an individual’s possession and/or preventing them from making firearm purchases.”

Red Flag laws violate 4^th Amendment “due process,” which means guns can be confiscated without the individual first having a court hearing, and before a crime is even committed. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled these laws unconstitutional in June of 2022 in the Bruen case.

Yet, on April 20^th, A ccording to Capitol insiders, Rules were suspended in the Tennessee House so the legislation can bypass the subcommittee and committee process and go s traight to the floor for a vote. The G.A. refused to hear Lee’s proposals, which would require attaching them as amendments onto bills currently on the floor. Almost immediately, r umors surfaced the governor would request a Special Sessions in the summer and on M ay 8 he did so. The race was on.

At least 9 GOP county offices sent separate letters to Governor Lee requesting he retract the call for a special session. The same offices also sent resolutions to their representatives to immediately adjourn the session if called. Grassroots groups around the state sent petitions and letters, including Fentress County’s Tennessee Action Group which collected over 345 signatures during a public petition signing at the Historic Courthouse in Jamestown. Representative Kelly Keisling showed up to add his signature.

After 3 months of public outcry and distress, pro and con, on August 8 the governor finally issued the formal call for a special session with a proclamation to “consider and act upon legislation” listing 18 different areas to consider. Eighteen proposals? None deal directly with gun control. What is going on!?

Keep this in mind: all of this started over one school shooting, even though there have been 22 mass shooting in Tennessee since 2012, and five of them were in schools. Rep. John Ragan commissioned a study which is submitting a study next week. He found that schools have “low probability,” but “high impact” (yes, especially for those involved). Further, “94% of mass public shootings, including school shooting, since 1950 occurred in Gun-Free Zones.” Therefore, our General Assembly allocated $200 Million towards school security.

At Covenant school in Nashville, there was no school guard, and the shooter’s manifesto has been kept from the public. That leaves us with 18 proposals from Gov. Lee in response to something for which there are many unanswered questions.

The list of pr oclamations from Lee it is all over the place. His proposal allows our state’s top law enforcement officials access to personal healthcare information, including what medications a person is taking. Someone who has had the courts involved in determining the state of their mental health, will have that reported to firearms dealers. He also proposes that juveniles’ criminal records are no longer protected, and the age is lowered for adult court. Gov. Lee expands Medicaid to cover mental health programs funded by federal money—which gives the federal government control.

Where is this going? How much will the feds ultimately be involved?

Read the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, S2938, P ublic Law No: 117-15, passed July 2022. Good luck on that!) Better, let’s look at the myriad of articles about it. The Washington Post says this bill, “enact(s) the most significant new gun restrictions since the 1990s.” And here is where we find $750 Million from the feds to the states to put into place red flag laws. Already 19 other states have done so. This Act offers the states another $200 Million for increasing mental health se rvices. Perhaps that is what Lee means when his proclamation asks for “legislation regarding mental health resources, or services.” We also find $2 Billion provided to hire and train staff for sc hool mental health services.

The argument here is not against mental health services. Instead it questions why they are trying to implement this in the schools under federal government control and intervention. Why are these services not being offered through local community, especially where parents have more oversight?

So what is really going on? The feds have dangled the proverbial carrot– money. Do we want money instead of independence? Do you? Will you give up your state sovereignty, our independence from federal controls, for more control over your children, your guns? Do you want the federal government controlling the state of Tennessee?

State sovereignty is at risk. We will discuss that more in the coming months before the 2024 Sessions in Nashville. We will look at how to protect our state against federal encroachment.

If any of this is something that concerns you call your representative and your senator, now. Ask them to vote for adjournment. Ask them to consider new laws during the regular legislative session January through April when they have open discussion with public input. Not now, and not behind closed doors.

References:

Rep. Keisling To Talk about August’s Special Session at 9/21 TAG Meeting

SPECIAL SESSIONS UPDATE with Rep. Kelly Keisling at TAG meeting, on Thursday, 9/21 at 6 pm

Rep. Kelly Kieisling will discuss August’s controversial Congressional Special Sessions held on red flag laws. He will discuss what exactly happened, and why.

Kelly joined with other legislators to vote for adjournment. Speaker Sexton warned against voting for adjournment, (which would have saved almost $500,000 of taxpayer monies).

Kelly voted to adjourn with 6 other representatives. Speaker Sexton immediately removed Kelly as Chair of State and Local Government committee.

WHERE: El Azul Restaurant, Jamestown, TN
WHEN: 5pm Supper, 6pm Meeting

Sign Cumberland County’s Petition to Stop the Gun Grab Saturday July 15

TAG will be supporting concerned citizens in Crossville on Saturday July 15, who will be sharing information and a petition at the downtown courthouse on Main Street from 9 am-5 pm. Look for the tent! Featuring food and music. A representative of Tennessee Firearms Association will be on site with information.

Tell the Governor What YOU Think About More Gun Laws

CONSERVATIVE VOICES REMAIN SILENT…

“The Tennessean (newspaper) obtained through a public records request 9,850 submissions to the feedback portal and sorted entries as generally supportive of additional legislation around firearms or generally opposing new measures. More than 7,100 people expressed support for additional gun reform, with more than 2,000 opposing any additional laws regulating firearms in Tennessee.”

The POINT, besides noting we have stupid and/or unethical people in government who released the names, is that CONSERVATIVES ONCE MORE HAVE DROPPED THE BALL.

What do YOU think?

IN CASE YOU ARE WILLING TO SPEAK UP, HERE IS THE LINK: https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/specialsession_public_safety

AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS.

Protect Your Gun Rights! Sign the Petition to Fentress County State Reps.

Tent Days AT HISTORIC COURTHOUSE DOWNTOWN.

Friday 10 am-5 pm and Saturday 9 am-5pm

NEXT TENT DAYS: July 21 & 22

Tennessee Action Group (TAG) was at the Historic Courthouse downtown Jamestown – Friday and Saturday, June 21 & 22.

Sign the Petition to Fentress County state representatives opposing Red Flag Laws (under any name including “protection orders”.) Governor Lee has called a Special Sessions of the legislature on August 21 to address new gun laws.

There will be music, food and drawings to win prizes. (To enter the drawing, you need to take the Constitution Quiz.)

The petition asks that our state representatives reject any bills that are unconstitutional regarding our 2nd Amendment and Article 1 Section 26 of the TN Constitution.

See “The Real Story of Jan. 6” this Sat. March 25

Next Movie Night is this Saturday, March 25, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Jamestown Community Center. Showing documentary “The Real Story of January 6.” Free to the community! Free refreshments.

TAG testifies on Capitol Hill FOR HB1045 to Close the Primaries

Click on video to view. TAG testimony starts at 26:30
Remarks transcript included below.

Remarks to Elections and Campaign Finance Committee March 1:

Chairman Rudd, committee members….. My name is Anne Featherston. I am a resident of Fenterss County, and House District 38. and I am the founder of Tennessee Action Group of Fentress Co, a grassroots group formed 2 years ago of constitutional patriots who figured out the best defense against the federal debacle was to engage on multiple levels to protect the citizens and sovereignty of Tenneessee.

The first research I came across in March of 2021 was Trevor Loudon’s opinion article on, ‘9 ‘Starter Steps’ to Save America from Socialism. ” He lists as #4– “Close the Republican Primaries.” (1) He calls this a “no-brainer” Why? Because open primaries can lead to an opportunity to “vote in the weakest candidate.”

We could have seen that happen nationally in 2022 when Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney publically solicited Democratic voters to vote for her in the Republican primaries. (2)

Last year the NY Times also reported “Democrats SURGE into GOP Primaries,” when Colorado Democratic voters admitted to registering as unaffiliated to vote against Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert. (3)

Considering the last 3 years, it seems there is little beyond the realm of possibility, and perhaps Tennessee could face a potential “surge” some day. So, in Section 5 of this bill, there is an option for either party in the “call for election” to decide whether to allow unaffiliated voters to vote in a particular primary.

Now, we may not have had a “surge” yet, but there are reports of “ripples”….

In 2013, the Tennessee Star newspaper reported on a “radical left organization” distributing a literature

piece targeting Tennessee Democrats to vote for a particular Republican legislative candidate because he supported their agenda. (4) And it happened again in 2022. (5)

Open primaries can dilute the vote.

This bill has been repeatedly introduced to the General Assembly.

2018: GOP Chair of Williamson County, in supporting a similar bill, said, “It’s a little disingenuous to allow someone to select a candidate for a party they don’t identify with and who they will not vote for in the general election. Just like Alabama doesn’t let Tennessee pick its head coach.”(6)

2019: This Elections committee approved HB 1273 on closing primaries and, at that time Tennessee’s own Republican Party State Executive Committee passed an “overwhelming” vote to close our primaries.(7) And did so again in 2022.

In 2022 a survey by Tennessee Conservative News, with a circulation of 18K and social media following of over 50K, saw 97% of respondents, indicating they want to close the primaries. (8)

According to the TN constitution as I understand it, our legislators ‘rule’ Tennessee according to, and by, the ‘will of the people.’

The people ask you to support this bill. Thank you.

1- https://www.trevorloudon.com/2021/03/opinion-a-new-zealanders-9-starter-steps-to-save-america-from-socialism/
2- https://thehill.com/news/campaign/3534910-cheney-urging-wyoming-democrats-to-switch-parties-to-=vote-for-her-in-primary/
3- https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/06/22/us/midterm-primary-elections
4- https://tennesseestar.com/2022/07/13/radical-leftist-organization-distributes-mailer-encouraging-democrats-to-vote-for-jeff-eby-in-house-district-69-gop-primary/
5- https://tennesseeconservativenews.com/tennessee-education-association-encourages-crossover-raiding-by-democrat-voters-supporting-incumbent-senator-briggs/
6- https://tennesseestar.com/2018/03/17/bill-to-close-tennessees-primaries-gains-steam/
7- https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2019/02/20/tennessee-elections-bill-close-primaries-require-voter-registration-party-advances/2926847002/
8- https://tennesseeconservativenews.com/almost-98-of-tennessee-republican-primary-voters-believe-open-primaries-should-be-closed/

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