Published: November 21, 2007 11:56 am            

A little political backscratching?

Heard the one about the county attorney buying rifles for the sheriff’s department out of his Hot Check Fund?

Did you also know the county attorney, James Owen, purchased the weapons from the wife of Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Dale Blaylock, in return for Blaylock throwing a fundraiser in Malakoff for Owen’s re-election campaign?

Blaylock’s wife Connie owns Carry Right Certified Concealed Handgun License School and Gun Shop in Gun Barrel City.

Did you know we have an election coming up early next year, and that Owen has drawn two opponents?

And did you know that none of the above is actually true — or actually false, either, for that matter?

Granted, the county attorney did recently approach Henderson County sheriff’s officials about purchasing 25 brand new DPMS Panther Bull .308 caliber rifles for the patrol officers.

It’s also true that the sheriff’s department said thanks, but no thanks.

So it’s not true that Owen bought those rifles for county lawmen?

Well, yes and no.

He actually wound up buying eight of them and giving them to Henderson County constables after the sheriff’s department turned down the offer of 25 free rifles.

Owen also keeps an extra rifle in his office for times when officers have to give up their weapons while they’re being used as evidence in court cases. Call it a loaner —& a deadly loaner, but a loaner, just the same.

So what about the quid-pro-quo — gun business in return for a fund raiser?

One of Owen’s opponents, Clint Davis, said he has no problems with Owen using the Hot Check Fund, for which the state allows broad discretionary use.

What bothers Davis is the alleged backscratching tactics of Owen and Blaylock allegedly doing favors for one another.

True?

Sorta’ true, sorta’ not.

Blaylock didn’t stage the fundraiser, per se. The Henderson County Republic Women did that.

Blaylock and his family just did the cooking for it. Cajun cooking.

“I stayed in the kitchen,” he said. “Look, I didn’t rent the building.” (The Senior Citizens Center in Malakoff.)

Blaylock has been cooking with his “sous chefs” for years, he said. His chefs are he and other family members.

“Three of us showed up to cook. There were 125 people there for the Oct. 27 event. James is a friend, and some other people asked me if I would cook.

“My wife didn’t make anything. I didn’t make anything. I just cooked for a friend.”

What about the gun deal?

“These are weapons that must be sold to a dealer if they cross state lines,” Blaylock said. “Elliot will not deal with anybody but a federal firearms dealer.”

Blaylock said Elliott Brothers is the largest sporting goods distributor in the United States.

Owen said he purchased the weapons through the Gun Barrel City store because they sell for $1,100 each, and he was able to buy them at cost through the local gun store at a price of about $826 for each of the eight rifles and the $288.99 scope that attaches to the rifles.

Blaylock said his wife got a money order from Franklin Bank to Elliot Brothers, and the check she got from the county didn’t cover the cost of the money order.

Blaylock said his wife paid for the shipping and when all expenses are added up, “She probably lost $15 or $20 on the transaction,” Blaylock said.

Why then, lose money on a business deal?

“Because James is my friend,” says Blaylock.

Blaylock also said he’s been cooking at such functions for a dozen years or so, and that some of those functions have been for Democrats.

“I’ll cook for anybody — if they pay me.”

If you’re a friend of Blaylock’s, he might do it for the expense of the food.

“I gave James a list of items I needed, and he went to the grocery store and bought it,” said Blaylock.

The fundraiser netted about $5,000, Owen said.

Politicians, the JP said, do frequently stump for one another during political campaigns.

But Davis said he has problem with a sitting JP taking sides in a Republican primary.

Then too, there’s the question of why the sheriff’s department did turn down 25 free rifles that would have cost them at least the same amount — $826 per rifle?

Blaylock says the weapons normally sell for over $1,100. Twenty five rifles at $826 comes to a gift for the sheriff’s department of $20,650 worth of free weapons.

Blaylock and Owen say they wanted to provide patrol officers more protection after the murder of two Henderson County Deputies earlier this year.

“I wanted to honor those who died,” said Owen.

Asked about Owen’s motivation in purchasing the rifles, Blaylock said, “I think he was trying to do something to give to the county. The two officers were killed and a lot of people wanted to know what they could do. This was something.”

In answer to charges that he might be guilty of political grandstanding, Owen said, “I did this privately. I have stood in front of no cameras. I want to provide more security for our officers and for the public.”

What’s not to love?

Assistant Chief Deputy Tony Allison, who is running for the seat outgoing Sheriff Ronny Brownlow is vacating after this term, said the department’s weapon of choice is the .223 caliber rife, and he goes on to say it’s also the weapon of most law enforcement departments in the country.

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Department does have a limited number of .308s, but those are reserved for the specially trained tactical force.

Brownlow said the department has to be equally concerned about liability during public altercations.

The sheriff declined to comment publicly other than to say the .308 is powerful enough to go through four buildings.

Allison says the .308 is a sniper rifle, and a good one. But under ordinary circumstances, the department prefers the .223 for its patrol officers.

Democratic political activist and longtime Owen critic Edith Rounsavall said she thinks Owen’s “has lost his mind.”

She too believes Blaylock was involved in the fundraiser to pay Owen back for doing rifle business with his wife Connie.

Owen said, “That’s just not true.”

Longtime political ally County Judge David Holstein backs Owen on his actions.

“I think it was an honest effort on the county attorney’s part to enhance neighborhood security,” Holstein said. “Conversely, the sheriff has his reasons. The sheriff is in charge of day-to-day operations. He’s also in charge of security operations in the county.

“He ultimately has the say on what’s best for the entire department. I respect and honor his decisions.”

I’ll leave it to you to determine whether or not politics is involved in any of this.

        

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