WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |'Guns in bars' fight returns to Capitol Hill
Member Center:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A new version of a bill that drew international attention last year passed its first test Wednesday on Tennessee's Capitol Hill.
A House subcommittee debated and passed a measure that would allow handgun permit holders to carry their weapons into bars and restaurants that serve alcohol as long as they aren't drinking.
A similar bill passed last year and went into effect in July but was struck down in court for being too vague just months later.
At the time, Republican Rep. Curry Todd, the bill's sponsor in the House, hinted he would re-introduce legislation this session to fix ambiguities with the law.
Wednesday was that day.
The revised version of the bill states handgun permit holders shall be allowed to carry their weapons in establishments that serve alcohol as long as they aren't drinking and as long as the establishment does not have a "no guns allowed" sign posted.
Much of the ambiguity centered on those signs, such as where they should be posted in bars and restaurants and how many each establishment must have.
"We wanted to make sure that was cleared up, so we could not be challenged on the vagueness of the posting requirements," Todd explained. "We're making a decision as a legislative body to clear up the vagueness [the judge] ruled on."
Last year, top cops like Metro police Chief Ronal Serpas spoke against the bill.
Rep. Eddie Bass, however, who once served as sheriff in Giles County, said the public shouldn't be fooled, adding, "I have yet, yet talked to an officer on the street [that] is not supportive of this legislation."
As they did last year, restaurant owners like Randy Rayburn fired shots at the bill's sponsor.
"Czar Todd has gone beyond what he accomplished in the last session, in the last session of the legislature with Senator Doug Jackson," said Rayburn, who owns Sunset Grill, Midtown Cafe and Cabana and was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed last summer claiming the "guns in bars" law is unconstitutional.
The lawsuit led to Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman's eventual ruling that the law is "fraught with ambiguity."
Previous Stories:
Comments Terms of Use: We welcome your participation in our community. Please keep your comments civil and on point. You must be at least 13 years of age to post comments. By submitting a comment, you agree to these
Terms of Service
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login or register See all comments |
