NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - A judge on Friday blocked a Tennessee law that allowed people to bring handguns into restaurants and bars.The law that took effect in July allowed handgun owners with permits to pack their pistols in places serving alcohol, providing the establishments made more than half their profits from food.
Nashville Judge Claudia Bonnyman said the law was "fraught with ambiguity" and ruled in favor of a suit brought by restaurant owners who argued gun owners would not be able to determine if an establishment met the criteria.
"We will have vigilantes shooting up bars all over," said Randy Rayburn, the owner of three upscale cafes, who led opponents of the law.
Supporters were considering a possible appeal, or new legislation.
The comment of Randy Rayburn seems a bit over the top, but as the owner of three establishments, he should know. Presumably he's been in the bar and restaurant business for some years and has had plenty of experience with the type of clientele who would now be allowed to bring their guns along. I would listen to him and the other owners who oppose this legislation.
What's your opinion? Do you think Judge Bonnyman is bringing a little common sense into the Tennessee gun debate?
Please leave a comment.
My home state allows guns in bars for permit holders and you're also allowed to consume alcohol as long as you stay below .08 BAC.
ReplyDeleteHasn't been a problem.
Mikeb: "The comment of Randy Rayburn seems a bit over the top, but as the owner of three establishments, he should know. Presumably he's been in the bar and restaurant business for some years and has had plenty of experience with the type of clientele who would now be allowed to bring their guns along. I would listen to him and the other owners who oppose this legislation."
ReplyDeleteRemember that Rayburn is SPECULATING here. Perhaps he has better than average experience, but it remains speculation.
Yet speculation should not be necessary. I don't think that Tennessee is the first place to have had a "guns in restaurants" law, so we should be able to see what ACTUALLY happened someplace as the result of such laws.
I find it suspiscious that opponents of various CCW laws usually seem to want us to heed their speculation as to the mayhem that would supposedly result, but rarely point out any actual results in the REAL world.
35 states allow guns in establishments that serve alcohol.
ReplyDelete15 states do not.
Here's the breakdown...
http://www.howistheworldgoingtoend.com/2009/06/states-that-allow-guns-in-restaurants.html
I adjusted the number due to recent events in Tennesse.
You should have no trouble at all finding oodles of wild west shoot outs to crow about.
Me: "I find it suspiscious that opponents of various CCW laws usually seem to want us to heed their speculation as to the mayhem that would supposedly result, but rarely point out any actual results in the REAL world."
ReplyDeleteI should clarify that: Opponents of various CCW laws DO sometimes cite anecdotal incidents -- what they DON'T do very often is show a significant increase in such incidents subsequent to the CCW law they are criticizing.
"It might be confusing to know which restaurants are OK and which are not, so we will make it illegal in all of them"
ReplyDeleteI also think it interesting that owners who already had the right to ban guns in their establishments want to expand that ban to their competition. As others have said, the majority of the US has provisions for guns in restaurants without significant trouble.
kaveman and Sevesteen said then (Sevesteen's words), "As others have said, the majority of the US has provisions for guns in restaurants without significant trouble."
ReplyDeleteI think that's the single best argument you guys have. Not just about guns in bars, but in general, more guns should result in more gun violence, yet in certain situations it seems not to be the case.
I'm not denying it and I don't have a counter argument, but I'm not convinced one way or the other yet.
We have no laws against carrying in bars / restaurants that serve alcohol.
ReplyDeleteHell, we can even drink while carrying, provided we stay under the legal limit.
Want to guess how much of an issue we've had with CCDW holders or OC'ers getting drunk while carrying, committing crimes etc.?
Not one damn problem MikeB. It simply hasn't been an issue. As usual you anti-gunners are being misleading and are engaging in fearmongering.
Oh, and this isn't a "guns in bars" issue, it's guns in places that serve/sell alcohol. Most restaurants you go to serve or sell alcohol.
Mike W. says, "Not one damn problem MikeB."
ReplyDeleteForgive me if I don't believe that right away.
Of course not MikeB, because you don't need to see EVIDENCE of a problem. You BELIEVE there is a problem therefore it must be so.
ReplyDeleteMe? I need to see facts, evidence. Delaware does not have a problem with CCDW holders drinking while carrying and committing crimes in bars & restaurants that serve alcohol. That's why it's funny to see you anti-gunners get so hysterical over something that is such a non-issue.