Nice work KA. I have been thinking about getting a gun and your research was right on target. You offer better information than the Tennessean ever provided which is why I no longer waste my quarters on that trash. I have put you on my Christmas list.
Wow. What a great way to spend your Thanksgiving morning. Thanks for the public service announcement KA!
Your post sounds kind of psycho there Wake Up Franklin. I'm not so sure you having a gun is such a good idea. I can see a scenario with you discretely lock and loading up on the roof of the Mellow Mushroom and trying to pick off "white hatters" during the Dickens Days Event. (turn your sarcasm meter on please).
Silence Dogood,
"turn your sarcasm meter on please" ... sarcasm appreciated.
And by the way, I didn't work this up this morning. This is a collection of information I have been compiling for some time.
Hey WUF, if you do make it by some of these places, let me know if my review is what you experienced during your visits.
I'm off to play soccer, so have a good Thanksgiving.
Just remember guys don't shoot your eye out. Granny
This puts an all new spin on O-No
The rumor is being spread that there will be some sort of assault rifle ban during the Obama administration.
I bought two assault rifles during the last assault rifle ban. Like all other government programs, this one didn't work either.
I'm quite convinced that guns stores are actively pushing this rumor. It's good for business...
best post i've ever seen on this blog...keep up the good work
I can't believe you didn't review Guns and Leather in Greenbriar. I've been to every gun shop you mentioned, but your tour is not complete with a visit to Guns and Leather. Two indoor ranges ($15 and $10 / day), the largest 1911 inventory of any gun shop in Middle Tennessee, and a custom leather shop on site. Check it out!
Dana,
I meant to include it in the note(s) at the bottom and I will add it to the list - I spaced it out.
I haven't been there, so I can't include it in the review just yet, but I want to go for the same reasons you mention. I see the ads on T.V. frequently.
There are other places I need to visit as well (Specialty Arms, etc.).
I also wanted to review the disappointing recent gun shows ...
... but I had to look for a cutoff point and tried to limit the review to somewhat nearby establishments from a Franklinite perspective.
Nonetheless, that's the type of feedback I'm looking for.
Didn't know you were into leather too.
Hand Gun Permit School teaches you, they are not clips they are Magazines.
M. Conrad Matthews,
And the debate rages on ...
Traditionally (as I have read it), magazines have been 'fixed,' so to speak, such as a powder 'magazine' in a castle, fort, or battleship - basically a reinforced storage house ... cold, dark, damp, etc.
'Clips' have traditionally been considered to be a removable device.
Oddly enough, in my estimation, it seems like the two have somehow been interchanged over the years.
Now, a device that simply stores munitions (bullets; rounds) for quick loading is called a clip (i.e., stripper clip) ...
... and now, a detachable device that feeds rounds/bullets/projectiles into a receiver is a magazine.
Huh?
Either way, if the magazine/clip properly feeds 30 rounds/bullets/projectiles into the upper receiver, I don't care what you call it.
I've been to Specialty Arms II in Smyrna. Skip it.
I'll take your word.
Too pricey? Small selection?
I also meant to ask you what the better choices for outdoor ranges might be in the area.
Stone River Hunter education Center Mt. Juliet Rd. at Percy Priest
Open Friday & Saturday
$5.00 last time we were there. www.Tennessee.GOV/TWRA
As for outdoor ranges, I've been to two. One is in the Cheatham County Recreation Area, but that was many years ago. I don't know if it is still there. The other is Owl Hollow. Most of the time that I shoot outdoors, I go to the family farm in Maury County and take the ATV, too. Specialty Arms has a very small inventory.
Sorry to get off topic but IMHO you are giving the mayor and boma a free pass on the agenda issue for the cinema donation. They may have shot it down in the meeting and everybody feels better but the mayor still had it placed on the consent agenda before any discussion was ever had that should have made it a regular agenda issue open for discussion. The mayor explained it off that if nobody supported the contribution then it wouldnt be anything and they would be voting on nothing which for his sake is what happened.
But what if everybody supported it and it did become “something” ?? The boma would have deliberated in an informal meeting and reached a decision and then the during OFFICIAL boma meeting minutes later you would have had it on the consent agenda where the public wouldnt have been able to say anything about it and they would have just passed it plain and simple.
If the mayors final answer is he didnt support it anyway then why and how did he put it on the consent agenda under his name? Why did he say Klatt was the one that wanted this. Whats the truth here?
Your last post was about the meeting and what the mayor said. If he felt he had to say something about it he could have said something any time for the days leading up to the meeting if he was letting on that he was reading your blog and knew exactly what it looked like to the people wathcing this. His explanation may be good enough for you but on its face its still wrong. You are telling me this is fair open and honest government?
There has to be procedure to place a item on the consent agenda perhaps Dana would explain that to us.
I went to Useltons and that Compact Classic 45 you see on their web page is 5,299.95 dollars. I dont know who is buying those but they better come with a bottle of Dom Perignon!!
Anon. @ 2:58,
That price covers a Barrett .50 caliber.
Anon. @ 9:14,
I agree with much of your sentiment.
What I got out of Schroer is that he was in damage control mode.
In the meantime, I've been thinking over a few things based on some rumblings I heard yesterday.
Was this some sort of attention to get funding either way ?
Example... Oh dear we don't want condos on the battlefield PR scare !
In the past, consent agenda items typically were moved onto the consent agenda from committee. Sometimes the mayor or city administrator put things on the consent agenda. With no committee structure in place, the agenda now is largely put together by the city administrator and the mayor. In the case of the "discussion" of the theatre donation, it is my impression the mayor put the item on the agenda as a courtesy to an alderman who requested it. It is important to remember that the item was "discussion." I don't make much of its location on the consent agenda because any one alderman can pull an item from the consent agenda and put it to facing a motion, a second, discussion and a vote. As you could see, the "discussion" was mostly the BOMA explaining why it would not happen.
Thanks Mr.McLendon.
The Saddle Shop in Triune. Always has something interesting, and although low in volume, he's really high in turnover. i.e. don't come back a few days later to pick up something, it'll be gone. "This ain't no damn museum" he says...
To Dana, Just say that no one alderman had asked for the item be moved from the consent agenda? What would have happened to it? Would it have passed?
There was nothing to "pass." The item was "discussion." While the amount of Mr. Klatt's request was known at least to me, and likely to others, it was not part of a resolution or other formality that would have been required to actuate a transfer of money. What would have happened had no one pulled the item is "nothing."
The combination of guns and paranoia about local government is spooky. It's irresponsible of an elected official to encourage this nexus. We don't need assault rifles in city hall.
"Spooked,"
I kind of like the fact we have an Alderman who is familiar with the Second Amendment.
It's refreshing given Franklin's new reverse brand of socialism, where the government taxes a relatively large percentage of lower incomes and hands the money over to downtown rich people pet projects to better their position and property values; i.e., $treet$cape for example.
I know of at least one retired doctor in Franklin who made a career, essentially profiting off of a capitalist health care system, and now that he 'has his,' is a staunch supporter of Franklin's new brand of socialism (read as hypocrite).
Pretty amazing story, huh?
It's even better when you get to vote on such issues.
And by the way, nobody ever said anything about "assault rifles in city hall."
Sounds like you're the one who is paranoid.
D-Mac,
That's what I call "illusory."
Oh. So now you are against Doctors making a living? Also, are you suggesting that Ken Moore doesn't recuse himself in votes that directly impact his home?
Oh right, you're just going to say that he shouldn't vote on any issue involving downtown because he lives there.
Also, these words of yours are particularly shrewd and agenda-fueled...
[i][b]"where the government taxes a relatively large percentage of lower incomes [/b] and hands the money over to downtown rich people pet projects to better their position and property values"[/i]
Clever?
No, just disingenuously crafted?
Anon. @ 9:03,
* No, just proves my point - rustic street lamps supported at taxpayer expense happened anyway. Funny how that works.
* Yes. See: Dan Klatt and other downtown Aldermen votes for historic overlays. CHA-CHING!
* Just like the propped-up Tennessean's Williamson A.M., and, the DNA, and Heritage Foundation, two non-profit/pet project/whatever groups that list their agendas on their web pages.
* Happens every day just about.
* No, real life.
* No, just unfortunately true.
Noticed some "For Sale" signs/signs in fron of the Brownstones. Somebody moving out of town, or just got caught up in the Economy going Upside Down? Just wondering, I couldn't afford one if I wanted, and I would never want those ugly places anyway.
KA,
The Streetlights at the Brownstones are identical to the ones being used for the Streetscape project in downtown Franklin. Same style, same parts.
See, all of us TAXPAYERS pay for all the streetlights in the City to be maintained. Even the streetlights in YOUR neighborhood too.
In the case of Main St. and the downtown area, it appears that the City of Franklin maintains them directly. In the other areas of the City, it seems that the City/Taxpayers get billed by MTEMC for that maintenance. There's a chance that the City directly servicing streetlights might even be less expensive to the taxpayers. I'd like to see the metrics on that.
Those particular streetlamps were PAID FOR by the developer, actually saving all of us money on the front end. Not to mention, those people that live there pay taxes as well, and probably quite a bit more than many. Should they not be able to receive general tax-supporter services as well? Or, "because they're rich and stuff" should we stick them with extra bills directly just "because they're rich and stuff?"
KA, you often make good points about the need for fiscal responsibility for the City, and you often get it right about the questionable shenanigans of some of our elected politicians. But in this case, I really think you're off the mark. You're coming off as bitter, vindictive, petty and spiteful. Or, maybe you're just being a rabble rouser, inciting the emotions of the natives and "PONCs" for your own bemusement.
New brand of socialism?? No doubt about it. Were a living breathing example of what you call "reverse" socialism if there is such a thing KA. Theres so much money going to so few interests in this town its crazy. I bet it just about killed everybody and drove them temporarily insane to have to vote for people over a theater!!
1:58 are you telling everybody that a high profile development in franklin forgot to get the lights included? WTF???
Didnt the city look at the development before they approved it? What else did they forget to put the right wiring and plumbing in too? MCLENDON HAD THIS RIGHT but anyone reading here that didnt think this would pass with all of the downtown connections is a fool and abstaining from the vote is a comfortable charade when you know its going to pass. There are too many that owe their election to these people.
Why do they need street lights anyway Ken Moores flat screen TV puts out enough light pollution to light all of downtown. Dam ever hear of curtains?
1:58 AM
"Or, maybe you're just being a rabble rouser, inciting the emotions of the natives and the "PONCs" for your own bemusement." Geez. Couldn't get more snarky and condescending if you tried, could you?
I suppose one would classify me as part of the "rabble" and a "PONC", and I suspect that true Franklin "natives" would take great umbrage at your lumping them in with the rabble and PONCs. Franklin "natives" prefer to be referred to as "the chosen".
I rather like the first part of your "handle" then the second part. More of that, from you, would be a good thing, methinks.
Anon. @ 1:58,
I'm not sure you can say "inciting the emotions of the natives" these days.
Hey Free Franklin,
Nothing snarky or condescending at all. Just an observation about the possible motivations of this Blog's Administrator.
I bet you'd like to "silence" my opinions, wouldn't you? You often seem to be an enemy of reason and a valid counterpoint, so that makes sense.
Also, to Downtown Wacko. Are you suggesting that the people that live in the Brownstones should pay for the streetlights outside of their houses when all other taxpayers should get theirs maintained through tax dollars? Would this because "they're rich and stuff?" And you have the gall to talk about "reverse socialism" when you're endorsing sticking it to "the rich" and giving the "not rich" more tax benefits. That's sounds just like the "wealth distribution" that those right-wing radio guys you listen to talk about.
Yeah you would never know the difference between those wood poles and huge globes every body else has in their neighborhood. Wonder why MTEC didnt want to take them on?
"silence dogood" Thats clever. Are you an editor too?
To get back to what the topic was I Picked up a Springfield XD with 18+1!!
Havent shot it yet and like you say the new range in franklin is too much. But the gas prices are great these days (!!) so driving to some of the other ranges you mention sounds like a good deal.
Silence you are creepy and I think you should go away and start your own blog...
SMALL TOWN MYSTERIES...
While obtaining a fishing license for the first time ever last year at Academy, it actually flagged my license that I had completed a Hunter Safety course. Which isn't that unusual in itself, except the class was over 25 years ago...
Thanks for the post. I have definitely put on my things to do list to get back to the firing range. I have not been since we were patrons of the liquor store with the firing range in the back in South Carolina. Those were good times!
An "enemy of reason"?? I don't consider myself an "enemy" of anything or anyone. That sounds maybe like just a bit of paranoia on your part, actually. So, please, quit looking over your shoulder, in your closet, under your bed, for "enemies".
In this great land of ours, all are entitled to a personal opinion. Just because I don't always subscribe to your viewpoint shouldn't make me an "enemy of reason"...and to brand me as such makes you sound not only kind of paranoid, but kind of... elitest....dontcha think?? Like maybe you are the only one entitled to an opinion, and yours is the RIGHT opinion?? That sounds kind of police state-ish to me. Maybe kinda "enemy of democracy-ish".
Actually, No, I don't want to "silence" you, because I do honestly believe in every one having their say. And thanks to Kool for the forum in which YOU AND I can both express our opinions. I just find you snarky, condescending...and somewhat amusing, actually. And you probably think that I am also snarky and condescending, so HEY...we're even!!!! And, I think your screen name is kinda funny in a juvenile Saturday morning cartoon kind of way and I riffed on it. BFD.
Snarky is a fun word may I use it too?
Absoltuely! Just as silence dogood has no sole claim to being the Voice of Reason, I have no sole claim to use of snarky!
Free Franklin,
Now you're being more reasonable. Good job. I too support and encourage speech. At least speech that's constructive.
Reason is not a tangible object. An "enemy of reason" doesn't mean anything other than someone being adverse to thinking rationally and analytically. It was a joke. No paranoia, no elitism here. My OPINION is that sometimes YOUR opinions lack analytical depth. But you know, I still FULLY support your right to have them and voice them. Get it?
As far as my screenname. Y'all need to touch up on your history a little bit.
silence dogood alias Ben Franklin alias whomever the heck you are:
I'm not a "Ya'll". I'm a carpetbagger. A little respect, please. (Get it?)
"Analytical depth"? We can only hope that the BOMA/COF uses analysis of any kind when making their "rational" decisions pertaining to street lights, water plants, whatever. Metrics? You've got to be kidding me. When you hear the mayor talk about the "historic" decision to be made regarding whether or not to rebuild the city's aging and insufficient water plant or go with HVUD for the city's entire water supply, you don't hear about metrics. What you hear about is that this "historic" decision merits much deliberation because if the city doesn't continue supplying at least part of the city's water needs it'll be the first time that "the city isn't in the water business." That's emotion, not analytical metrics. So yeah, I'd like to see the COF use some of that "analytical depth" you speak of when they MAKE DECISIONS. That is, however, just my OPINION.
Good information and Post KA.
The Outdoor range at Mt. Juliet Rd. and Percy Priest is only a few years old. Be safe now here.
Thanks you all* for the snarky but I may get stuck on that word and it may cause a problem at home.
I could try to be more analytical in my thinking but it may cause some to think I was arrogant. This reminds me for some reason Rodain's "The Thinker" is at the Frist Art Museum. Good exhibit. *Yankee version*
Silence Dogood
You are right about the Brownstone's lights. It is a good deal for the City because the developer paid for the lights and we won't have to when $treet$cape does that area. MTEMC does not supply every part to every light produced. They have a small catalogue that they will service and that is all. The City made a decision decades ago to have a different light for the downtown area. And everyone should cut the Brownstones some slack. That is about $40M of additional property to tax that did not exist a few years ago.
Let's not leave out the Dickson Sportsmans Store, a/k/a Dickson Gun Shop. It's been a couple of years since I last did business there, but they made me a square deal on a trade for a nice 1911. I went there because even after accounting for the time and the gas, I got a better deal on a Kimber CDP Pro II than I could get elsewhere, and they did it all by phone until the actual transfer of the firearm. In fairness, I should say that the Franklin Gun Shop is a family business run by business men. What I mean is that I've gone in there and told them that another source would sell me an item for $x and when they could match that price, they did.
D-Mac,
I haven't been to the one in Dickson yet(?).
I still go by Franklin Gun to "gunwatch" and purcahse miscellaneous items.
I have purchased firearms from them before but I haven't ever asked to match another price - it may be you are more acquainted with them.
I'm not opposed to a little markup for profit (why be in business?) but the firearms I did purchase from FG were after I did some research.
The Stones River range that 7:29 mentions waaay above looks like a nice deal, especially with 18, 100-yard positions - adult annual fee: $101.00.
Check out this page with the video I found:
http://www.tnoutdoorsmen.com/srhec.htm
If you reload or are interested in used guns (some new guns as well), then be sure to visit the Reloader's Bench in Mt. Juliet.
I live in Smyrna, and there's no problem with Specialty Arms II in La Vergne; except it's a bit small as an earlier commenter pointed out. But there's an excellent gunsmith working out of there.
I can't stand shooting indoors so much, but when I have to, On Target is good for that. The TWRA range is...well, government-run, and you can tell it. There's a split between rifle and pistol ranges, which is unfortunate. There's always someone in uniform sniffing around, and while it's nice to be kept safe, they border on overbearing. And, they look up your bore before you're allowed to shoot..
NTTAWWT..
Yeah, I should have been more clear. I've got no problem with Specialty Arms in Smyrna. It's just that if you are here in Franklin, the inventory at Specialty Arms probably isn't worth the drive. I juxtapose that against the best in store pistol inventory I've ever seen at Guns and Leather, which is bigger than any other store mentioned on this post, at least as concerns the 1911 platform.
Ted's in Columbia is great. See Wayne. They always have good prices and all the clothes and boots to go with the guns!
serr8d,
I don't know if I would trust myself reloading ... I would surely screw something up.
Why do they look up the bore at the TWRA range?
D-Mac,
I'll make it to Guns & Leather one day.
Anon. @ 5:38,
Is that the one on the square - if so, I've been there.
Why do they look up the bores? Why, to nanny-state protect other shooters from exploding guns, I suppose. I guess if a shooter is dumb enough to leave a tootsie roll in his barrel, then the nice people at the TWRA want to ensure it won't cause an innocent bystander to suffer damage.
You know if that's what they must do, then some lawyer somewhere made a fortune because someone didn't.
Hidee everyone, I just read our very unfair explanation of our store, and yes I am well aware that people that write reviews are allowed to have their opinion and they may not always favor our way to run the business. But, i would like to address some "facts" that were said in this brief editorial to our range, that aren't quite the situation as it may have seemed to that person.
1. Our range and members that in two months have already bypassed the 250 mark, and every single one of those members really enjoy the membership aspect of it, since they know they can come to Uselton's to "get away," "relieve stress from work," or "just meet up with other members in the range." I wish you had spoken to some of our highly excited members while you were there. Also, I am sure this was mentioned to you as well, but you are able to go in as a GUEST, for $20 a person. So for those people that are not keen on the idea of a membership, even though you get a lot of perks to it, they have that option. Our members get first priority in our range, but we have opened the option of letting guests in. So, if you are one of those people that would like to shoot, say four times a year, you can do so with a fee of only $100, and the cost of your targets and ammo. Now as a member, you will be able to get discounts (which they all take full advantage of), such as discounts on all instock inventory, ammunition, even freebies, and also the opportunity to shoot in the range, during our competition shoots. So that was the first thing I wanted to address...
2.We do manufacture our own 1911's, called Uselton Arms, and yes there are guns that are $5299, and we have some that have sold for upwards of $13,000. We know that this is not attainable for most individuals (heck there not in my price range!) but, we do sell theses guns all over the United States and this is our headquarters. I an even go as far as to say that Rick Uselton (the owner & manufacturer) is a consultant for a large gun manufacturer that will be introducing a line of 1911's. These are quality guns, all built with the finest expertise behind them, and they are not "production guns," such as Kimber, Colt, Sig, Thompson, and many more. These guns are in the category of Les Bauer, Wilson Combat, Rock River Arms (all custom 1911 gun manufacturers). I wish that the gentleman that came out could have seen our great prices on other guns, such as the Keltec PF9 for $299, or the Ruger SP101 for $529. We have been told on numerous occasions how nice it is to see a gun store in the area that is ridiculously overpriced and "ripping us off." I actually just got that quote from a lady and gentleman last night who signed up for our Platinum Package for $399.95 a year, and by the way, each time they shoot, their lane fee is only 5 bucks (that's probably why that's the most popular package!) OK, so thats number 2, on to "fact" 3...
3. Just to make it correct in your other article on the ban of AK's, there
Angela,
Please see my email regarding your comments that were cut off.
Thanks.
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