Tennessee House votes to override guns-in-bars veto

The Tennessee House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to override the governor’s veto of the so-called “guns in bars” bill. The Senate is expected to vote on the override this morning.

As I’ve said before, I’m a huge supporter of the 2nd Amendment (indeed, the whole of the U.S. Constitution, for that matter), but at some point common sense has to prevail. I mean, putting aside the well-reasoned arguments of law enforcement, that the provisions of the bill (requiring that a carry permit holder not be intoxicated while packing heat in a bar or restaurant) will be nearly impossible to enforce, it’s just a bad idea.

And why–WHY–would you go eat or drink–with or without your wife and kids–at a restaurant or bar where you truly believed you needed a gun to protect yourself? Let’s call that what it is: bad decision making.

State Representative Kent Williams (R-Elizabethton), Speaker of the House, in his efforts to cut off any debate as to the override, had this to say:

…to rehash the same arguments over and over and over, I think, are ridiculous. I’ve heard it all for six months almost.

How eloquent! I always thought that the deliberate suppression of any free and open debate was the hallmark of communist and/or tyrannical regimes… (and the church). It certainly runs completely and utterly contrary to the principles upon which this great nation and this great state were founded. Bravo, Mr. Speaker!

Proponents of the bill point to Georgia, where they say “crime went down” after passing a similar law. But they present no hard facts, and let’s not forget: correlation is not causation.

As State Representative Mike Turner (D-Old Hickory) aptly pointed out:

You know, even in old Dodge City, they checked the guns when they went into the city; they didn’t allow guns in saloons. So, I just think it’s a bad mix. I know, some people say it’s worked other places, but I think it’s potentially dangerous.

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