Tennessee Lawmakers Allow Guns In Bars

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Handguns will soon be allowed in bars and restaurants in Tennessee under a new law passed by state legislators who voted to override the governor's veto.

The legislation that takes effect July 14 retains an existing ban on consuming alcohol while carrying a handgun, and restaurant owners can still opt to ban weapons from their establishments.

Thirty-seven other states have similar laws.

The state Senate voted 21-9 on Thursday against Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen's veto, a day after the House also voted 69-27 to override.

They overrode critics, including Bredesen, who said it's a bad idea to have guns and alcohol in close proximity.

Democratic Sen. Doug Jackson, the main sponsor of the bill, said state Safety Department records show handgun permit holders in Tennessee are responsible.

Of the roughly 218,000 handgun permit holders in Tennessee, 278 had their permits revoked last year, records show. Since 2005, state records shows nearly 1,200 people have lost their permits.

Revocations are issued for felony convictions, while permits can be suspended for pending criminal charges or for court orders of protection.

Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, was the only senator to speak against overriding the veto Thursday.

"I believe that we should follow the governor and rethink what we have done," he said.

The law, which was supported by the National Rifle Association, has been successful in other states, its chief lobbyist said.

"Of those 37 states, not one state has attempted to repeal or amend those statutes because they've been successful," Chris Cox said.

Bredesen spokeswoman Lydia Lenker said after Wednesday's House vote that the Democratic governor expected an override when he vetoed the legislation last week.

Following Thursday's Senate vote, Bredesen, who is a gun owner and hunter, reiterated his stance to reporters.

"I still think I'm right," he said. "I still think that guns in bars is a very bad idea. It's an invitation to a disaster."

___

Read HB0962 at: http://www.capitol.tn.gov

Comments

[Zman380]

02:02 PM on 06/20/2009

I am amazed at the unthinking hatred aimed at gunowners in general and people from the south in particular that is displayed here. Here's a newsflash for you: guns don't go off by themselves - there has to be a person there to pull the trigger.
I've carried concealed for nearly 20 years, even in bars and while consuming alcohol and I haven't killed anyone in a drunken shootout. But I have managed to stop a few arguements from getting really ugly. I suppose those of you who despise objects that enable self-defense would rather I had just let those people beat eachother to death with pool cues and barstools though.
And as to the hatred and contempt shown toward those who live south of the Mason-Dixon - well, what can one say when a blatant bigot denounces others for their "bigotry"?
PKB anyone?

[HippyLover]

11:32 PM on 06/19/2009

I don't really understand the controversy.

The law, and public at large, expect people to be responsible with guns. What is this mystique about being in an establishment that serves alcohol and allows law abiding permit holders to bring their guns in, expecting rational behavior? I.E. no consumption of alcohol while in possession of a gun.

Here's the deal. Outside of a bar, society demands responsible behavior. It's illegal to be intoxicated while in possession of a firearm.

So given the free ability to drink alcohol outside of a bar, and possess a gun - yet can't legally do so - what exactly changes? The rules are the same...

The good thing about the law... is that it is one of few that rewards the law abiding citizen. If you behave in a responsible manner - you should have the freedom to protect yourself.

But we don't hear much about freedom from the gun fearing crowd....

[onepotatotwopotato]

01:17 AM on 06/11/2009

I live in Florida and can go into a restaurant that serves alcohol and order a meal without breaking any laws as long as I don't consume alcohol while I'm there. That's just common sense. Most of us don't really think of Applebee's as a "bar", but since they do serve wine and beer to diners it would have been illegal for me to set foot inside an Applebee's in Tennessee while carrying concealed. Most restaurants have liquor licenses. This just means that I can protect myself and my family while dinning out. Stopping for dinner after the 2009 S.H.O.T. (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoors Trade) Show in Orlando, Florida last January I joked to my wife that I wondered how many of us in the dinning room were carrying concealed (no open carry allowed in Florida).

[RoloTomassi]

05:10 PM on 06/05/2009

Well seeing how Memphis, TN has just earned the dubious honor of having the worst crime rate in the nation, this should really go a long way in helping them maintain that status....

[AirForce Vet]

03:44 PM on 06/05/2009

This is another dumb move in the Volunteer State. It was stated, “NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Handguns will soon be allowed in bars and restaurants in Tennessee under a new law passed by state legislators who voted to override the governor's veto.

The legislation that takes effect July 14 retains an existing ban on consuming alcohol while carrying a handgun, and restaurant owners can still opt to ban weapons from their establishments.”

What I want to know is, who will be monitoring who is drinking vs who is not drinking? Who will be curious enough to find out who carrying a gun or not. I don’t think these weapons should be carried into bars (liquor availability, dah) and most definitely not in restaurants (family gatherings at times). Why create problems? It was stated by a legislator that Tennessee handgun permit holders are responsible. That says a lot, doesn’t it, how special? Guns and alcohol are unstable, like nitro and glycerin. Ask Dick Cheney about his shooting incident down in Texas. When will you allow guns at Watts Bar and Sequoyah Nuclear Plants?

[jmpurser]

03:36 PM on 06/05/2009

Hello Mr. Tennessee, meet Mr. Darwin.

[suec03]

03:23 PM on 06/05/2009

Every old western that had a good sheriff made visitors hand over their guns to the sheriff until they were on their way out of town. Either that had a historical basis, or the screenwriters had a point. Alcohol and guns are a dangerous combination. We have seen news reports from time to time of celebrity sports and music figures who go to clubs and problems erupt with guns. I hope the Tennessee bureau of Tourism knows this will make me scratch Tennessee off my list. A day visit maybe, but I will avoid their restaurants and bars or leave the state before sundown on any visit!

[flamom4obama]

03:20 PM on 06/05/2009

So the designated driver gets to carry the gun and the car keys.

[socialtalker]

03:08 PM on 06/05/2009

next laws the NRA will be proposing....
1. GUNS IN HOSPITALS
2. GUNS AT DISNEYWORLD (they recently got laws allowing guns in national parks)
3. GUNS IN STADIUMS (to show fan support)
4. GUNS AT THE BEACH. (never know when a shark will show up)
5. GUNS IN SPACE (pesky aliens)
6. GUNS IN PUBLIC RESTROOMS (in case some punk does a "wide stance" in the next cubicle)
7.GUNS IN THE MORGUE (in case some zombies want to start something)
8. GUNS IN THE MOVIES (shooting allowed, just dont yell fire)
9 GUNS IN THE POST OFFICE (nuff said)
10. GUNS IN THE CAPITAL (finally a way for rep-cons to decrease the democratic majority)

[BlackJAC]

08:55 AM on 06/06/2009

In Minnesota you can bring a gun into a bank. Nope, can't see how that's not going to end poorly.

[Steve Brock]

01:55 AM on 06/20/2009

sounds good to me. why shouldn't i be able to carry anywhere? do you think the criminals are gonna care where you can and can't carry a weapon?? have they ever?? this is for law abiding citizens to protect themselves. responsible gun owners are not the problem. but you anti-gun fanatics can't seem to comprehend that

[factotem]

03:05 PM on 06/05/2009

Yee ha! But until it's legal to scr*w my sister, we don't really have none of that dad-gum "freedum!"

[zukervati]

05:26 PM on 06/05/2009

LoL

[danonchalant1]

02:55 PM on 06/05/2009

Hear my edict and tremble! From this day forth, no man, woman, or child South of the Mason/Dixon line shall be allowed to comment about Plexico Burris' gun incident. Nor shall they be allowed to comment further on anyone who faces a gun charge. This I command!

[LiberTLover]

02:54 PM on 06/05/2009

Well the funeral homes can save their advertising dollars. There will be plenty of business for all.

[Rich Hosking]

02:51 PM on 06/05/2009

Cool.

I say we make multiple handgun ownership mandatory for every man, woman, and child over 5 south of the Mason-Dixon line that can hold one up,
then...
Use a government grant to give them EACH 100 lbs. of hollow point ammo.

then...

Let'em have at it for about two weeks.

That would make a freakin' awesome reality show, and then we could have a government again.

[timthemedic]

02:32 PM on 06/05/2009

So sad that so many people here either chose not to read the article, chose not to believe the article, or cannot read the article. In case anyone missed it, "The legislation that takes effect July 14 retains an existing ban on consuming alcohol while carrying a handgun".

As the law is written, and has been written, guns and alcohol will not mix.

Can anyone point me to an article about anyone with a CCW permit going crazy and killing mass amounts of people? I don't think those people are the ones we need to worry about. The people that we need to worry about are probably the ones who illegally carry pistols, not the ones who pass background checks and have had training with pistols that includes both marksmanship, and the laws concerning carrying.

[LiberTLover]

02:56 PM on 06/05/2009

Like the guy they are looking for who is on a mission to kill President Obama who has 8 registered guns?

[olmossy]

10:49 PM on 06/05/2009

But he said CCW, ( carry conceald weapon)Permit. Where you pay for instruction, pay for a license, get a background check complete with fingerprint check, to carry a pistol.

No Tim. Fla has had right to carry for a long time but the County Sheriffs made it near impossible. State Legislature made it so Anyone qualified could carry a firearm.
Anti Gunners all howled and cried and predicted a bloodbath. But 10 or so years later no problem at all. I'm not sure anyone licensed to carrry has commited any firearm offense. If so very few. But as far as I know we can't carry in a bar.

I don't know who the guy from NY hunting the POTUS has his guns registered with. Probably just owner/registeration.


Last year the US Supreme Court ruled that possession of a firearm ( by individuals) is a constitutional right. So you have the right to carry a gun for hunting and defense.
Some decissions make the right mad. And now some make the left mad. Thats the USA.

[socialtalker]

03:23 PM on 06/05/2009

so what you are saying is that this was all for show?

"we need to worry about are probably the ones who illegally carry pistols"

if violence were only being committed by career criminals your point would make since, but the list of people who have been shot and killed by "law abiding" people in domestic and public squabbles is too long and bloody to overlook.

[bakedegg]

02:56 PM on 07/01/2009

I would like to see your list of people with CC permits that have shot and killed people in public squabbles, most people that carry legally only want the right to protect them selves, and I agree that guns in bars is not a good idea and the bar owner has the right to refuse entry, but being able to carry into a restaurant that serves drinks gives me great comfort, especially when sometimes you don't have the luxury of front door parking in a town like memphis or nashville. Guns don't kill people, people kill people.

[pascaljim]

02:29 PM on 06/05/2009

Yee Haw.!!!!! Hope they gotta hitching post outside for me horsey......38 special long barrel is me choice.
NOW gimmee the whiskey....