TN Senate passes bill to allow guns in bars

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by E.L., Jan 23, 2008.


  1. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=58552

    Senate passes bill to allow guns in bars



    The state Senate passed a bill today to allow gun carry permit holders to take their firearms into bars.

    The bill passed 24-6. The permit holder carrying the gun into a place that serves alcohol is not allowed to consume alcohol under the legislation.

    Sen. Doug Jackson (D-Dickson), who sponsored the legislation, said the current law forbidding permit holders from carrying their firearms into bars kept law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves against criminals, who wouldn’t care that there was a prohibition.

    “Who are we protecting?” Jackson told fellow Senators.

    Sen. Beverly Marrero (D-Memphis), who voted against the bill, raised questions about how the law would be enforced to make sure that gun carry permit holders in a bar did not consume alcohol.

    “I have been in a bar before and I was always relatively happy that the people in that bar were not heavily armed,” Marrero said.

    Local senators Thelma Harper (D-Nashville) and Joe Haynes (D-Goodlettsville) were two of the Senators voting against the legislation.

    On the House side, the bill allowing guns to be taken into bars is still in subcommittee.

    Thirty-four states, including five adjacent to Tennessee, allow handgun carry permit holders to take their guns inside a restaurant or bar serving alcohol.

    About 185,000 Tennesseans have handgun carry permits.
     
  2. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Makes sense to me. I should hope that TN residents that carry have enough common sense to keep the alky away from the guns, they might go off. In any case, it looks like the responsibility is where it belongs, on the citizen, not the state.
     
  3. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    We have that here, which is nice so we can carry in casinos. Never have heard of any incidents with CCW holders - lots of shootings in Vegas but it's always illegal guns.
     
  4. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    I do not frequent bars but occasionally will dine at a pub; I always carry, law or not. The fact that some are drinking is no justification for risking my life just because the letter of the law stands between me and my ability to defend myself.
     
  5. TnAndy

    TnAndy Senior Member Founding Member

    Same here......the way the law is now, you can't go in an Applebee's or such restaurant because they have a bar section there, or because you can order one of those drinks with the little umbrella with your meal.

    I carry there on the few occasions we do go to such places, as well as the mall where they have a sign prohibiting and other places like that. I'll take my chances with a jury of 12 over carry by 6 any day. In all probability, nothing will ever happen.....but on the slim chance a "Ruby's Restaurant" or that recent mall shooting DOES occur, I don't intend to be a helpless victim.
     
  6. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    I'd bet even money that there are more than a few of us that believe that very thing.
     
  7. sheen_estevez

    sheen_estevez Monkey+++

    I just wish Wisconsin would allow CCW in the state. But not under our current ruler (I mean Governor).

    Of course not saying I don't but that's a change I'm willing to take
     
  8. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Ive been in and worked in several bars and I guess I must be at the wrong ones because most of them I have been in had SEVERAL of the patrons armed even before you could get a permit here.

    I dont go to the bars much at all anymore and here you cant carry in a 'bar' but if they dont make over 50% of their money from alcohol its fine. As far as any other businesses posting to firbid carry in their place (even though all they can do here is tell you to leave if they catch you carrying and IF you dont charge you with trespasing with an added $100 on the fine) I simply spend my money in places with more intelegent owners/managment.
     
  9. kckndrgn

    kckndrgn Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    This is something like the 3rd or 4th year that this bill (or one like it) has passes the senate. It always stalls at the house. Just like this one probably will (I hope to be proven wrong).

    Unfortunatly, some people hear that it has passed the senate and they assume that it is the law already. So we've been fielding quite a few questions about it at the range where I work.
     
  10. BAT1

    BAT1 Cowboys know no fear

    The owner of a business that deals in money and whiskey, probably needs a gun to defend his family or co-workers and yes even customers. Should be instructed in diffferent situtations, and a CCW would help. Or yearly, some hours of instruction. CEC's

    Don't take the guns, it makes it worse!
     
  11. BigO01

    BigO01 Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Like most laws having anything to do with guns , banning legally concealed ones is stupid .

    First off why do we as a society naturally assume that a person who has had perhaps honestly 1 or 2 drinks incapable of making a life or death decision .

    Is it a crime to perform CPR on someone having a heart attack if you've been drinking ?

    To do the Heimlich maneuver if they're choking to death ?

    Fact of the matter is the vast majority of adults who are accustom to drinking fairly regularly aren't affected by a few drinks unless they either haven't eaten that day or are on some medication .

    Then there are those who go to bars and honestly don't drink , I have met many folks who enjoy playing pool , darts or shuffle Board and spend an entire night at the bar and sip soda all night long .

    What about people there for business reasons ?

    The liquor delivery person , the guy who brings in the bar snacks , the service person for the pool table or juke box .

    Anyone in a bar is subject to being targeted by an armed robber or even an unruely drunk .

    I once had a fellow threaten me because he thought I was looking at his girlfriend when I was watching a football game on the television behind her and over her head .

    Funny how racial profiling is wrong because it is an assumption of guilt yet these kinds of laws aren't .
     
  12. adkpete

    adkpete Monkey+++

    Dumbest thing I've heard of. Alcohol and firearms do not mix
     
  13. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    That point is highly irrelevant from the stand-point of the right to defend yourself. If you are drinking, you do not need to be carrying a firearm but if you are carrying a firearm, you do not need to be jailed for going into an establishment that sells booze.
     
  14. kckndrgn

    kckndrgn Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Correct, why should I have to disarm and leave my firearm in my car just so someone else can have a drink? I don't drink, I would like to keep the ability to have my firearm with me to and from the establishment.
     
  15. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    My personal view is that unless a place provides a secured parcking garage, armed security in the garage and establishment, metal detectors AND accepts total responsibility/liability for the protection of EVERY person in the establishemnt then they should have NO ability to tell people they can not be legaly armed if they go there. If they dont at the least provide all of the above then all they are doing is protecting criminals and putting honest folks in mortal danger. Their rules wont keep out the person who is going to misuse a weapon, if they are not detured by the laws against murder or assault with a deadly weapon then the weapons prohibition sure aint gonna bother them, it ONLY disarms the person who would be carrying it to protect themselves and others.

    As far as guns and booze not mixing, I would basicly agree. I dont see it as a huge thing if someone chose to have (literaly, NOT the proverbial) 1 or 2 beers with their pizza or a glass or 2 of wine with their dinner at a nice resteraunt or something and carrying to make sure its not their last meal (like it was for those at Lubys) basicly just to have it similar to DWI in makeing the distinction between A drink with your meal and being intoxicated. More so than that point though would be the fact that simply being IN a bar with a gun is not the same thing as mixing guns and booze. Booze just like guns is an inanimant object and dont jump off the shelf and intoxicate you. To say people cant carry in bars because guns and booze dont mix would make most gas stations TOTALY insane, they sell lighters and gas which sure dont mix well, they also generaly sell beer/alcohol and gas for cars and drinking and driveing dont mix, point being that all those things that dont mix can be available in the same place and still not be used in combination.
     
  16. BigO01

    BigO01 Monkey+++ Founding Member

    You're 100% right , thats why I don't pour beer on my guns . [lolol]
     
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