Guns In Bars? Tenn. House Says OK

Chamber Approves Bill That Would Allow Permit Holders To Bring Weapons Into Alcohol-Serving Establishments

(AP)  The House voted Thursday to allow Tennessee handgun carry permit holders to bring their weapons into any establishment that serves alcohol.

The chamber voted 66-23 to approve the bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Curry Todd of Collierville, a retired police officer.

The measure abandons earlier efforts to impose an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for carrying handguns where alcohol is served and to keep a total ban on establishments that enforce age-restricted entry.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner of Old Hickory told Todd he had been "a little mischievous" for supporting the time limits when the bill earlier passed in the House, but then quickly abandoned them in a negotiation session with the Senate.

"There's nothing mischievous about this," Todd responded. "I was never ever for the curfew."

Todd said he had only agreed to move the version with the time limits so he would have enough votes to move the measure through committees and to a House vote.

In March, Todd strenuously opposed efforts to strip the curfew from the bill and told reporters he wouldn't vote for a bill without the time limits in it.

But the Senate passed the proposal without the restrictions, and the House negotiating panel led by Todd agreed to that version last week. Todd told the chamber Thursday he considered the changes "minor."

Proponents of the curfew said they wanted handgun carry rights to extend to family restaurants that also happen to serve alcohol. The 11 p.m. curfew was meant to differentiate those restaurants from bars, since Tennessee law doesn't make an official distinction between the two.

State restaurant and police chiefs associations oppose allowing guns in bars, though Todd argued that law enforcement groups did not actively voice their concerns to him this year.

The Senate would have to agree with the House version before it can head for Gov. Phil Bredesen's consideration, but it appears likely to pass since the agreement largely reflects the measure originally approved on a 26-7 vote last month.

The Democratic governor has not said whether he would sign it into law.

The bill would take effect June 1. The measure would leave unchanged an existing ban on consuming alcohol while carrying a handgun, and restaurant owners would still be able to ban weapons from being carried in their establishments.

[BubbaTN]

When Blockbuster posted a sign that stated, "No guns allowed in our store, " the chain of stores began seeing a record number of robberies. It has since removed the signs and the number of robberies has declined. Posting such signs encourages robbers and puts customers in danger. Gun carry permit holders take classes, fingerprinted and lenghty background checks, then it's 4-5 weeks before they are issued a permit. I have a wife and two kid and will not go into an establishment that bans handguns.

[fdx22]

Wild West shootouts at the saloons will be a new tourist attraction. Coming to a Tennessee bar near you! They should make a tourism ad about it.

[mecanik-2009]

As much as I think concealed carry is a good idea I think this is a bad idea. I don't think anyone should ever be allowed to carry if they have had even one drink. I think there should be a stipulation that if someone is in an establishment with a concealed weapon that serves alcohol that they not be allowed to be served alcohol.

[mahdeealoo]

Bar fights can now include bullets. Smart move.

[jackp32]

I read where in San Antonio, TX during a recent 6 months period, homeowners sent 18 criminals, trying to break into their homes, to the eternal celestial dirtnap. Only you liberal bedwetters would object to this.

[barbaram99]

NHD-16 did ye move to. Hollywood made them wild west shows. I hate them. I have always live and live in gun free homes,

[texasbeta]

Hey morons....quit blaming guns for what the thugs are doing. The day that the thugs no longer have weapons in this country is the day that I'll consider turning mine in which will be NEVER!!!!! Have you liberals ever heard of accountability or responsibility??? I guess not or there wouldn't be so many people in prisons or on welfare. Do you really want crime to drop? Get rid of liberal judges/attorneys and the ACLU (American Communist League Union) and you'll see a drastic drop.
Posted by enjoylife63


It must be nice living in your fairy land world. Tell me monkey...how many gangbangers are on the internet looking up criminal judgements on the internet before they go bang? Do you even think about things before you respond or are you just a juvenile thinking reactionary? Oh...dumb question. With your response, the answer lay.

[texasbeta]

Way to go Tenn..about time we had some common sense laws again..These Bed Wetters just don't seem to get it......Criminals do not obey laws.....When they pass concealed carry laws crime drops,just look at Dallas,Tx.....Any Liberal Bed Wetting Cry Baby Democrat out there,Can not tell you where a gun law has reduced Crime.....Had People kept their rigth to bear arms,maybe 911 would not have happened. When everyone may have a gun,a criminal gets more picky on whom he threatens,or attacks.
Posted by sirmarion-2009


You are a moron to begin with. You want everyone to carry guns...think it will be safe? Ever watched a show on the Wild West? How safe was that ya freakin knuckledragger? I live in Dallas, and you are out of your mind. We have people shooting each other on the highway...not gangbangers, stupid ass rednecks like yourself who got mad when someone cut them off. Last week, 4 different people were randomly shot while driving on the highway in rush hour traffic. Guns in bars? You NUTJOB! There is NOT a worse idea...people get drunk and want to fight. Alchohol limits logical thought processes....now we will have drunk rednecks in Tenn thinking they are Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett. You should have to pass a test in order to vote...this is ridiculous. We have grown people like yourselves with 14yr old mentalities.

[honestabe8]

Way to go Tenn..about time we had some common sense laws again..These Bed Wetters just don't seem to get it......Criminals do not obey laws.....When they pass concealed carry laws crime drops,just look at Dallas,Tx.....Any Liberal Bed Wetting Cry Baby Democrat out there,Can not tell you where a gun law has reduced Crime.....Had People kept their rigth to bear arms,maybe 911 would not have happened. When everyone may have a gun,a criminal gets more picky on whom he threatens,or attacks.
Posted by sirmarion-2009

Amazing that you feel that calling people names helps your argument.

[winchester70]

"I am glad I am GONE! So are we, HHD16. So are we!

[NHD16]

These are all the reasons I left AMERICA! I lived in Tennessee. I moved to a country that simply outlaws guns. The number of deaths by gun either accidental or on purpose in my town since the 1800's : NONE! Bar fights might end in bruises, but no deaths. Children are not accidentally the victims of gun death. They cannot shoot up their classmates, parents or themselves. Even the police here do not carry guns. It is illegal to even carry a knife! Even criminals find it difficult to have guns. There are about three-five gun deaths a year in the whole country. And yes there are people who will try to commit murder in other ways...crazy people are everywhere who will act violently.... their level of success is greatly reduced because NO GUNS. Time to get over the cowboy mentality. More guns...more deaths...it is too quick, effective, fast and give no time for reason to set in. You just make things more difficult by allowing guns in the first place...and now to put them with the influence of alcohol? I am glad I am GONE!

[ianlou]

Let me get this straight, Tennessee has dry counties that do not allow bars, and other counties that will allow guns in their bars. Are guns currently allowed in churches?

The land of God, Guns and Guts sure is confusing.
Is it now the land of God, Guns, Guts and Rot-Gut?

[ToolMangler1]

Does anybody know the difference in a Bar, A Restaurant with a Bar and a Restaurant that serves alcohol??? I tended bar in a Bar years ago, and waited tables in both of the other types of eateries.
Tell me your version and I will tell you the truth. (Just seperating stupidity from actuality)

[paddyhayes]

As the Right is so fond of saying, "An armed society is a polite society."

Take Somalia, for instance ...

[mrzerato]

What a group of morons in the Tennessee legislature. Of all the stupid laws the state legislatures are passing this year, this has to be the dumbest. Alcohol and guns do not mix. they are a lethal combination.

[jonesjep]

Concealed carry is restaurants that serve alcohol is legal in many states alreay and their crime rates are lower than Chicago and DC.

I see some of you think that Western movies are actually reality. It was really sad when Morgan Freeman died in "Unforgiven".

[jonesjep]

Great choice. It is time to stop treating law abiding citizens like criminals. I see many of you have failed to read the article which is typical of libs. React on mindless emotion and no common sense. People should have the right to defend themselves whereever they go.

Good job Tennessee. You can now see why crime is lower in states that honor their law abiding citizens Constitutional Rights!!

[mensarino]

Simply too amazing for words.

[ToolMangler1]

It didn't work in Tombstone (AZ) and it won't work in Tenn,

[excoachken]

Wouldn't make more sense to have a gun dealer at the Jack Daniels still? I say minimize the distribution point and you'd probably get more rednecks killing each other there. Only one garbage truck needed for all the morons who want these two activities combined.