WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |Judge rules 'guns in bars' unconstitutional
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A judge in Nashville declared Tennessee's guns in bars law unconstitutional Friday, saying the law is too vague.
The law took effect July 14 despite a veto by Governor Phil Bredesen and allowed handgun permit holders to carry their weapons into places that serve alcohol, as long as they weren't drinking and providing the establishment makes more than 50% of its profits from food.
Friday's ruling follows a suit brought by a group of Nashville restaurant owners and workers headed by Sunset Grill, Cabana and Midtown Cafe owner Randy Rayburn.
Ruling in favor of the group, Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman said the law is "fraught with ambiguity."
There was no immediate word from attorneys for the state about an appeal.
Many restaurants across the state opted out of the law under a provision allowing them to do so.
The legislation retained an existing ban on consuming alcohol while carrying a handgun.
Nevertheless, critics complained that guns and alcohol in close proximity are a dangerous combination.
Of the roughly 218,000 handgun permit holders in Tennessee, 278 had their permits revoked last year, records showed.
Since 2005, state records show nearly 1,200 people have lost their permits.
Rep. Curry Todd, sponsor of the measure in the House, said he hadn't seen the ruling but disputed that the law is vague.
The Collierville Republican said he will introduce legislation in January to fix any legal problems.
Senate sponsor Senator Doug Jackson told News 2, "Legislators will look at the judge's opinion, and likely several bills will be filed next session to address the ambiguity the court has identified."
Todd said he will also ask the state attorney general to appeal the ruling.
Other lawmakers who voted against the bill, say they believe the state needs to move on.
"I had hoped that we could focus on some other things, you know... Unemployment is at a record high," Democratic senator Thelma Harper said. "I think there's so many other things that we could do."
Mike Kelly owns Jimmy Kelly's Steakhouse in Nashville.
He says he didn't get involved in the guns in bars debate until his employees voiced their concerns.
"I want them to come to work and feel safe," he said. "They shouldn't be concerned that a guest might have a gun and would some way threaten them."
Some say the second amendment allows legal permit holders to bring their weapons with them virtually anywhere.
"There's no one in this city that's a stronger proponent of the second amendment than I am," Kelly said, "but that doesn't give me a right to carry my shotgun into Kentucky Fried Chicken."
Mike Kelly and some other critics say they support the second amendment, they just don't support guns mixed with alcohol.
*The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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