April
3, 2005--An amendment to Tennessee's concealed weapons carry law
is now headed to the House Judiciary Constitutional Protections
subcommittee.
The amended bill, HB 2225, would allow
those with concealed weapons permits to carry those weapons into
restaurants that serve alcohol.
A Senate version of the bill, SB 1901,
passed by an overwhelming margin of 29 to 3 on March 23rd.
Current Tennessee law prohibits the carry
of weapons into any establishment that sells alcoholic beverages
for on-site consumption. This puts permit holders in the position
of having to leave their guns in their vehicles, where they might
be stolen.
Thirty three states allow permit holders
to carry their concealed weapons into restaurants that serve alcohol.
At least three states--Colorado, Idaho, and Utah--allow the carry
of concealed weapons in bars, as long as the permit holder is
not intoxicated.
HB 2225 would allow carry in restaurants,
although permit holders would not be allowed to consume alcohol.
Those carrying in such establishments without a permit would continue
to be subject to existing law.
The bill would also give restaurant owners
the discretion of disallowing carry in their establishments by
posting a "no guns" sign. Under the existing Tennessee
carry law, owners of businesses already have the right to post
such signs.
Representative Frank Buck is the sponsor
of the HB 2225. On March 31, the following co-sponsors were added:
Republican Leader Tre' Hargett of Shelby
County
Rep. Paul Stanley of Shelby County
Rep. Curry Todd of Shelby County
Rep. Bubba Pleasant of Shelby County
Rep. Susan Lynn of Sumner/Wilson Counties
Rep. Debra Maggart of Sumner County
Rep. Phillip Johnson of Cheatham County
Tennessee gun owners should contact their
representatives and politely ask them to support HB 2225. To find
out who your state representative is, go to Who
is my State Representative?
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