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Gun nuts in the Tennessee state legislature have declared civil war on New Yorkers — saying they will retaliate for the prosecution of a woman who was carrying an illegal pistol at the 9/11 Memorial.
A resolution winding its way through the Tennessee legislature warns New Yorkers not to drive through their state — because the Highway Patrol is “gunning” for us.
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” — and reminds New Yorkers to “drive carefully” if we come visit.
“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,” reads House Resolution 585, which urges charges be dropped against Meredith Graves.
A registered nurse and fourth-year medical student, Graves was arrested when she tried to check her Tennessee-registered weapon at the 9/11 Memorial in December. It’s illegal to carry the weapon in this state.
Graves faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 3 1/2 years if convicted of felony weapons possession; prosecutors have not said if they will seek an indictment on that or on a lesser charge.
The resolution also “urges” New York officials “to use common sense and sound judgment in the disposition of the case against Meredith Graves.”
“Well, that’s just — you know, this resolution has no power of law,” the Tennessee measure’s sponsor, Rep. Frank Niceley, (R-Knoxville), chuckled to The Post while speaking of his measure’s not-so-veiled ticketing threat.
“All it does is bring attention to the case,” Niceley insisted. “And sometimes, a little humor brings more attention.”
“So, you don’t really mean it?” he was asked.
A long, purposeful pause stretched northward from the Tennessee end of the phone line.
“Well, I don’t know that the Highway Patrol would be any kinder or any harsher” to New York drivers, Niceley finally said. “But it’s something to think about.”
Resolution 585 should come up for a vote in Tennessee’s House of Representatives next week, before heading to the Senate and the governor’s desk. Graves is due in court March 19.
“It’s just so tragic,” Niceley said of Graves’ plight.
“I have three daughters, and two of them have carry-permits. Something like that could have happened to them.”
“Women need to be armed,” he added. “It’s a dangerous world.”