New Version of “Guns In Bars” Approved By State Subcommittee

The latest proposal to allow handguns in bars survived a subcommittee vote in the Tennessee House of Representatives Wednesday. By one vote, Memphis Republican Curry Todd got his new “guns in bars” bill out of the House Budget Subcommittee, where Democrats had hoped to sink it.

Todd’s bill clarifies a measure approved by the legislature last year. That measure was overturned in court because of the vagueness of what is a bar and what is a restaurant in Tennessee law.

Todd says the new version his bill takes away any mention of “restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages.”

“It’s not a gun in bars bill as you would define… it’s actually a hand-carry permit bill where you can carry it anywhere that alcohol is served.”

Former House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, himself a handgun-carry permit holder, argues that the bill is not wanted by the public.

“I believe it was some 65 or 70 percent of the folks …who were polled, and it was a statewide poll, were opposed to this legislation. The restaurant industry is opposed to this legislation. The hospitality industry is opposed to this legislation. Yet we’re mandating that they have guns in bars.”

Naifeh is referring to the ability of businesses to post signs saying “No Guns Allowed.”

The bill is expected to go to the House Finance Committee next week.

Todd also has a measure to more narrowly define bars and restaurants. That proposal is on hold while the fix-it measure for guns in bars advances.

WEB EXTRA
The bill is HB 3125 Todd/SB 3012 Jackson.

The legislative staff summary is perhaps the most neutral explanation of the measure.

House Democratic Leader Gary Odom of Nashville in opposing the bill in subcommittee returned to the argument that passage of the “guns in bars” law would result in less

“And I’m quite frankly, really concerned about the impact that something like this could have on convention …business, and obviously you don’t feel that way, or you wouldn’t have the bill.”