BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — On Tuesday, two Blount County deputies were shot while responding to a call about a domestic situation. Neither was severely wounded and Ronald Reed Millsaps, 59, was taken into custody.
Millsaps is accused of shooting the deputies, and Sheriff James Berrong said Millsaps had weapons in every area of the house.
"When our constitutional forefathers thought up the Constitution, they didn't say a man or woman can only have two or three weapons. I mean, there is no prohibition against the number of weapons that you can lawfully own," said T. Scott Jones, an attorney. "Responsible gun ownership would seem to vote against just laying weapons all around the house."
Berrong said Millsaps have several high-powered rifles and handguns across the home and fired up to 300 rounds. During the shooting, he said deputies took cover behind their vehicles and shot back while Millsaps retreated back into the home.
"That indicates an individual that is laying in wait, or that has planned for the use of those weapons," said Jones.
Tennessee has some of the least restrictive gun access laws in the country. Jones said there are a handful of reasons someone would not be able to legally own a gun.
"If you were in active addiction, i.e., that you have a drug problem or a problem with alcohol, as well as if you were a convicted felon," he said. "I believe if there was a concern about the mental health and the capacity of the individual possessing the weapons, law enforcement does have the power (to remove weapons). I've seen them do it."
Berrong said deputies responded to the same home in the past, on multiple occasions. Millsaps is being held on a $2 million bond and faces at least 14 charges, including attempted criminal homicide and aggravated kidnapping.