Guns in bars is a bad mix

[mgc1961]

In Nashville, and across the state of Tennessee, we pride ourselves in having great reputations for business climate, hospitality and quality of life. Nashville has repeatedly been named one of the friendliest cities in America, and our state consistently wins awards for competitiveness in business recruitment and expansion.

The guns-in-bars bill currently being considered in the state legislature threatens to damage that reputation and put both businesses and individuals at risk. Our future prosperity depends on the actions we take today. Business leaders and citizens of Tennessee cannot sit on the sidelines and allow unnecessary laws to harm our potential for economic growth.

Last year, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce voiced our opposition to a similar bill that would have allowed permit holders to take guns into establishments that serve alcohol, provided their primary source of business was food. Nashville Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman ruled that the bill was unconstitutionally vague, and we are still waiting for the courts to give further guidance on the issue.

Despite the fact that the judicial system is still considering the issue, the General Assembly has, once again, brought a guns-in-bars bill up for consideration. This version of the bill would affect a much larger number of establishments because it would allow permit holders to bring guns into any establishment that serves alcohol, regardless of whether it also serves food. While gun carriers are not permitted to consume alcohol, mixing guns and alcohol, even if the carrier is not drinking, puts both the public and the business at risk.


There's more at http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100413/OPINION03/4130312/1007/OPINION/+Guns+in+bars++bill+is+a+bad+mix+for+Tennessee

[DrDan]

1. absolutely! It is just insane.

[TheWraith]

22. FYI, it's illegal to drink while carrying a weapon in almost every state.

The only exception that I'm aware of is Washington state.

[xchrom]

2. Recommend

[Turbineguy]

3. A man walks into a bar

carrying a gun. He cannot consume alcohol.

What would be the point of that?

Well, at least he can shoot somebody.

[X_Digger]

9. Point? Listening to the band, driving his consuming friends home.. n/t

[digidigido]

11. and why exactly does he need a gun to listen to a band or be able to drive his friends home?

[X_Digger]

13. The parking lot at 2am, the walk to a gas station when the car breaks down at 3am. n/t

[Lautremont]

16. If going out for the evening is such a fearful proposition, just stay home.

[X_Digger]

19. My crystal ball is on the fritz, how's yours?

If I knew when I hit the snooze button that today would be the day I had to shoot someone to save my life, I'd stay in bed.

I avoid as much as possible, situations where I might have to shoot someone. If I'm buying something from craigslist, and the person doesn't want to meet me at their home (not an unwise precaution, btw) I'll meet them in a well-lit, very public parking lot. If I have to go out in the middle of the night because my wife has a craving for jalapeno ice cream, I park as close to the door as possible, under a light. I'm aware of those around me, and I make eye contact. I don't talk on the phone with my head down, oblivious to the world.

I carry for the places and times I can't foresee. Having to defend oneself from a violent criminal doesn't always happen in 'the bad part of town'. Is it rare? Sure. Do I choose to be prepared anyway? Absolutely.

I also have a first aid kit in my car, a flashlight, a fire extinguisher, some energy bars, and a couple bottles of water. Do I fear cuts, darkness, fire, starvation, or dehydration? Nope. No fear, just preparedness.

[TheWraith]

21. I for one don't let fear determine whether I leave my house.

I don't carry a pistol, but if I felt the need more often, I certainly would. And I'd want to take it in places where you could buy alcohol, and I wouldn't feel bad about that, because I hardly ever drink. Never, when I'm driving somewhere. There's a club in Syracuse my girlfriend likes that has been known to have crackheads in the parking lot. Doesn't change the fact that it's a nice place inside.

[PSzymeczek]

26. How are you going to enforce that?

If it's concealed, how will the bartender know?

edited to correct typo.

[era veteran]

4. Tending bar in the seventies we had two rules No guns & no colors

Of course it was a hippy bar.

[Bonhomme Richard]

5. Even in the old west, sheriffs would take the cowboys guns..

when they entered town and return them when they left. The last thing they wanted was a bunch of drunk cowboys shooting up the place.

[Speck Tater]

6. I don't know. Sounds like a good way to thin the herd. nt

[X_Digger]

7. Has Arizona had a problem with CHL/CCW'ers in bars?

Arizona removed the blanket restriction on concealed carry in bars / restaurants last October, is blood running in the arroyos yet? If not, why would one assume that Tennessee CHL holders are somehow less responsible than those in Arizona?

As a group, CHL holders are rather law-abiding.* They're as likely to abide by the continued restriction for them to not partake as they are other laws.

Most CHL holders I know aren't really worried about the bar / restaurant itself, but rather the parking lots and streets. Of course the only way to be able to protect oneself on the 2am trip back to the parking lot is to carry it inside the bar.


(* TX- http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/convrates.htm, FL- http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/stats/cw_monthly.html)

[teknomanzer]

8. Haven't heard of any incidents yet...

Its only a matter of time...

[X_Digger]

10. The heat death of the universe is 'only a matter of time'..

..as entropy slowly consumes all energy and we spin down to nothingness.. doesn't keep me from enjoying life.

Similarly, I'm not worried about CHL holders killing people in bars and restaurants, based on states without such restrictions' track records.

[teknomanzer]

14. I know this...

Death is immanent, therefore I do not carry weapons.

[PSzymeczek]

27. True, that.

It's only been 7 months.

[Doctor_J]

12. Most of these new ordinances are just political bloviating by the fringe right

"Yer never gonna git my guns, you goddamn commie". Victory for NRA = victory for far right = loss for America

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[proteus_lives]

20. That is your standard non-logic.

"Not that the gun nuts will ever in million years take responsibility for the innocent people that are killed and wounded due to their cowardly disregard for common sense."

Too bad you never acknowledge the difference between criminals/accidents and safe and legal gun owners. You and the rest of the authoritarian bunch would get further if you didn't insist on punishing/taking away the rights of people who have done nothing wrong.

"Gun fights have become the new "step outside" in several states"

Would love to see the facts behind that opinion.

[TheWraith]

23. Really? Where? Actually, you can't provide any proof, because that's not true.

Statistically, you're less likely to be shot by a concealed-carry licensee than you are by a police officer.

[Uncle Joe]

17. That one just doesn't make any sense to me.

If operating a vehicle while impaired isn't a good idea, what on Earth makes them believe having a ready hand gun is?:shrug:

[TheWraith]

24. You can't legally drink while carrying a weapon in most states.

The only exception that I know of is Washington state. But you can be a bouncer working for a bar, or a designated driver, or getting something to eat, or listening to the band, etcetera.

[Mike K]

18. Beyond the issue of guns, -

- The fact that the public is permitted to gather in commercial places where a substance known to induce violent behavior is consumed, while marijuana, a relatively harmless tranquilizer, is demonized and prohibited, is reminiscent of a time when witchcraft was diligently persecuted. Anyone who has ever experienced the atmosphere in which a gathering of adults enjoy the pacifying effect of marijuana knows which of the two situations are less likely to result in any sort of anti-social conduct.

[Tutonic]

25. Don't believe anything spoken by the Chamber. They're always

angling to benefit the least deserving.

[yurbud]

28. PEOPLE in bars is a bad mix. Guns in bars is idiotic

[yurbud]

29. things like this make me wonder if the private prison industry funds the NRA

the more stupid gun laws there are allowing stupid people to kill, the more of them will need to end up in prison.

[Recursion]

30. Ironically, both sides of this debate ignore the low violent crime rate

I wish it were reported more often that violent crime is at a 30 year low. Hand-wringing about guns and "the violence they bring" ignores the fact that violence has been steadily dropping since the early 90s.