NASHVILLE – The House voted Friday night to override Gov. Phil Bredesen’s veto of legislation allowing the state’s estimated 270,000 handgun permit carriers to go armed in any restaurant, bar, nightclub, museum, zoo or other establishment selling alcohol for on-premises consumption.
Their action, following last week’s Senate override, essentially repasses the bill. Permit holders are not supposed to drink and risk losing their licenses if they do. Businesses and institutions can post signs banning guns which permit holders are to obey.
The veto passed on a 61-30 vote and there was no debate. The House sponsor, Rep. Curry Todd, R-Collierville, was the only person to speak on it.
“Today I rise for the second time to ask this body to override the veto of this legislation that provides law-abiding citizens the right and ability to protect themselves in establlishments all across this state,” Rep. Todd said. “You know how you’re going to vote, so I respectfully ask that you vote your conscience on this bill to give the law-abiding citizens the right to protect themselves.”
In his veto message to the General Assembly, issued last week, Gov. Bredesen said “guns and alcohol don’t mix” and asserted the latest version of the bill is an “even more expansive and dangerous form” than the “reckless” version he vetoed a year ago.
Last year’s bill was overridden by lawmakers, as well, but later was struck down by a judge for being unconstitutionally vague because permit holders could enter establishments that met certain food service requirements.
This year’s bill seeks to cure last year’s problems by stripping out any mention of food requirements, thus making it legal for handgun-permit holders to go armed in any establishment selling alcohol for on-premises consumption.
Meanwhile, the 106th General Assembly, already five weeks beyond leaders’ original adjournment date, can’t seem to get its act together to finish its annual session. Senators begin their 92nd day today. House members, meanwhile, adjourned until Tuesday.
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Article: Senate overrides Bredesen’s latest ‘guns in bars’ veto