By Andy Sher
asher@timesfreepress.com
NASHVILLE — The National Rifle Association is accusing Gov. Phil Bredesen of having “betrayed” a “trust” by vetoing legislation Thursday allowing handgun-carry permit holders to bring loaded weapons into establishments selling alcohol.
The executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, Chris Cox, in a statement called the veto “a shock and a major disappointment to gun owners and supporters of the Second Amendment because Governor Bredesen had committed to supporting this legislation.”
“During the 2006 campaign, Governor Bredesen assured Tennesseans — and the NRA in writing — that he would support this effort. NRA’s endorsement of Governor Bredesen that year centered largely on this promise. Today, that trust has been betrayed,” Mr. Cox said.
In vetoing the bill Thursday, Gov. Bredesen, flanked by some 50 law enforcement officials including Chattanooga Police Chief Freeman Cooper, cited his general support for Second Amendment gun rights but said “guns and alcohol do not mix.”
“The notion that this bill would permit one to carry a concealed weapon into a crowded bar at midnight on a Saturday night defies common sense, and I cannot sign such a measure into law,” Gov. Bredesen said.
Police Chief Cooper later said allowing handguns in establishments selling alcohol is a “mistake.”
Gov. Bredesen’s veto “is a rejection of the desires of most Tennesseans and an overwhelming and bipartisan majority of legislators,” Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith, who is exploring a 3rd Congressional District bid, said in a statement.
Andy Sher is a Nashville-based staff writer covering Tennessee state government and politics for the Times Free Press. A Washington correspondent from 1999-2005 for the Times Free Press, Andy previously headed up state Capitol coverage for The Chattanooga Times, worked as a state Capitol reporter for The Nashville Banner and was a contributor to The Tennessee Journal, among other publications. Andy worked for 17 years at The Chattanooga Times covering police, health care, county government, ...
I think our biggest mistake was hiring Chief "There's no Gangs or Crime in Brainerd" Cooper. Maybe he should focus on our problems and leave the politics to the professionals.
Are police (off-duty or otherwise) allowed to go armed while drinking in a bar or anywhere else? The effects of alcohol would override any "special training" they may have had with weapons. My impression of most shooting deaths (human or animal) caused by police are to protect the police officer's safety, not the public's safety. Licensed individuals should have the right to be as protected (by protecting themselves) from danger as a police officer.
Thirty-seven states do not prohibit the right to bear arms in restaurants or other places that serve alcohol. It is illegal to drink or become intoxicated while bearing arms.
This veto will be over-ridden, as it should.
Although Bredesen will more than likely be overridden by the legislature, he has shown Tennesseeans that he cares less about law abiding citizens protecting themselves than criminals that prey on us in gun free zones. This was strictly a political move. He has never taken any action on other gun legislation (letting them automatically become law)and now decides to veto this! Suggestions have been presented by some that law enforcement would need to visit "bars" to ensure that HCP holders are not drinking alchol while carrying. Why don't they do that for criminals who are out drinking? This whole thing stinks.
You are right legallyarmed. Why not send the police to check for DUI candidates or DUI prior offenders who are on probation? Maybe they can run everybody in the restaurant (what people on here refer to as a "bar") for parole violations, parking tickets, etc.
Gov. Bredesen vetoed this bill because he has heard from the 95% Tennesseans who do not carry and do not want to dine with their family with those who may carry. This bill would have put the responsibility and liability on the shoulders of the restaurants.
EaTn - How do you know? That 95% the voices in your head told you about copy you on their letter? Bredesen did what he did for one purpose - politics. If you think there are any altruistic motives attached, well ......
Sailorman-- not to worry. My bet is the 5% will prevail over the Governor and other 95% in the end.
EaTN - I have had my permit for over 10 years and dine regularly in restaurants that currently do not serve alcohol. I have not heard of any permit holder going wild and shooting up the place. I do not even drink alcohol so why should I be penalized for something someone else might do.
If Bredesen was so concerned, he should try to stop all diners from having to eat with us thug and criminal handgun permit holders. Your 95% is a joke. If anything else, it goes the other way. Gun haters will be gun haters.
EaTn...I don't know where you get that 95% of Tennesseeans don't carry. Total fairydust. Sounds to me like you'd like to make up the rules as you go along, too.
Robin Smith's comment of "most Tennesseans" - where does that come from? I dare say most Tennesseans haven't been polled or voiced an opinion. It may not be 95%, but I bet more than 50% are against letting people carry guns into restaurants and bars.
I know you permit holders are certain of your abilities, but I'm not so trusting of you.
That is a badly conceived argument signalmtnman. That is like saying that you LICENSED drivers are so certain of your ability but I'm not trusting you. We all have to trust that the State has properly screened and examined the other driver for the system to work.
It is unreasonable to believe that the MAJORITY of permit holders or even a significant number of permit holders would violate the law. If they were that willing to violate the law, then they are probably already bringing them into the establishmnet now.
I believe that I trust permit holders alot more than those like yourself who have not been trained or had TBI and FBI background checks. If you are not so trusting of us, I do not see how you can live with having all of us scary permit holders out there at the gas station, grocery store, etc.
redbearded-- the actual percentage of Tennesseans with a permit is 4%, but the percentage of adults is more like 6-8%.
OK EaTN - if the number of permits is 4% - I'll take your word for it - then the odds of you actually being in a RESTAURANT that serves alcohol at the same time as a legal firearm are rather small. Further, I would posit that odds you would further be in the company of a permit holder who does something illegal with his firearm are infinitesimal. So what are you worried about? You have a better chance of winning the lottery.
EaTN I believe thinks as many do that the only people with guns should be the government. They believe big daddy Obama should take care of them so we can all embrace one another and the criminals will all see the light of their ways and we will all hold hands and sing. Yes we can. Then Obama will convince our enemies (North Korea, Iran, Al-Qaeda) that we can all be brothers and love one another. Yes we can. Then we will all gather and destroy all weapons and become one with nature. Yes we can. I am having visions of that old Coke commercial where we all sing in harmony. Yes we can.
Or it could be that EaTN is a member of one of the local gangs or just a thug and doesn't want us mean ol' permit holders to stop him. Either way, I don't care. Trying to convert gun haters is like trying to convert me that guns are naughty. We are both entrenched equally on our side of the issue. It is truly pointless to even engage them in conversation.
redbearded- to be honest it doesn't bother me personally, but if I had a wife and kids it would because I know it would up the odds of me having to grab the kids to avoid crossfire from someone who probably was legally carrying shooting at someone who was illegally carrying.
The only way you would get caught in crossfire involving me is if you were between me and the guy shooting at ME. If he's shooting at you, too bad. I'm neither a cop nor your protector.
Uh, if a permit holder shoots someone that can go to jail for negligent homicide and be sued. If you took the State mandated course, you would know that. I have a wife and 4 kids and would only fire if directly threatened. I am not a cop nor pretend to be. I would retreat if possible and only shoot if cornered.
nooganCCp I hope that was directed at our buddy EaTn.
Of course Sailorman. It is easy to tell who has and hasn't taken the course.
lol thanks though I probably shouldn't have used the term "crossfire".
noogan, since you don't drink and don't eat where it is served you are not affected by the veto. Nor is the Shelby Co. Sargeant who blew away someone, in an establishment that does serve, a few of months ago. He was off duty and the only person armed and in violation of the law. He was found guilty of 2nd degree murder last Friday.
Uh Vandy, I do like to eat at the restaurant portion of let's say Longhorn, Chop House, Acropolis, etc. For all of the alcoholics out there, you CAN go to a place that serves alcohol and not be interested in the booze. I understand this is a difficult concept for those who have killed way too many brain cells at the hands of liquor. There is a certain element of society that gets drunk off their backside everyday. I have never been interested in deliberately impairing myself, save the time I got my wisdom teeth yanked out. For the record, I don't like coconut or mushrooms either but that doesn't stop me from going to eat the other things on the menu that I do like.
Also, for those who like to pull the odd occurence as an excuse to support their ideas, there are literally tens of thousands of cops who don't do what the disturbed individual in Shelby Co. did. It would be stupid to say that we are going to take all police officers guns away because of the depraved behavior of a small few.
Likewise it is wrong to strip lawful handgun permit holders of a legitimate right to carry in a restaurant that also happens to serve alcohol. How can anyone justify that someone could break into my car and use my gun against me or others because I was forced to leave it unattended?
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