The World According to Oatney

Keep and Bear

In 1796, Tennessee was still not only a rural place, but along with States like Kentucky and Ohio, formed part of the country's western frontier. Carrying a gun wasn't just good for protection, but was vital to survival. Why would these frontier people give the government the explicit ability to regulate it?

It may be because dueling was also very common in those days (see Jackson, Andrew and Sevier, John-Gay Street-Kingston Pike confrontation and duel), as was taking the law into one's own hands-often because the nearest law could literally be days away from you, and that is how Tennessee's system of rural constables developed.

Labels: Conservatism, Tennessee politics

posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 11:39 PM