Handguns Will Be Allowed in Tennessee Bars and Restaurants

[Tom]

This is from FOXNews.com:

Handguns will be permitted in bars and restaurants in Tennessee starting next month after a new law was passed — but many venue owners plan to ignore it.

The law, which takes effect July 14, comes after state legislators voted to override the governor's veto.

The legislation retains an existing ban on consuming alcohol while carrying a handgun, and restaurant owners can still opt to ban weapons from their establishments.

...

Link to article (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525188,00.html)

[kenhwind]

I did notice that in this legislation, that if you are carrying you "Cannot legally consume acholohic beverages".
The Florida is different: You can concealed carry in a restaurant but not a bar.

[Carole-K]

I tend to agree more with the Florida legislation where carrying a weapon is not legally permitted in establishments that derive more than 51% (if I recall the % correctly) from the sale of alcohol.

I mean I rarely go to a bar and don't drink anything alcoholic. But I frequently go to restaurants where alcohol is served and don't drink anything but water or Diet Coke.

Alcohol, impaired judgment and a weapon or machine that can be lethal don't mix. So I can understand the idea behind not wanting patrons in a bar or club drinking - I mean really there aren't many reasons to go to a bar other than to drink. But a restaurant that happens to serve alcohol? Completely different story in my opinion.

[kenhwind]

Alcohol, impaired judgment and a weapon or machine that can be lethal don't mix.
I have to agree, but dinner and a cocktail is not happy hour.

[d90king]

Are you permitted to carry concealed? Or does it need to be in plain view? Va's is odd that you can carry, but it must be "open" carry.

[georgeshannon]

Does anyone know what the other 37 states are that allow concealed carry in restaurants serving alcohol? Here in New Mexico we had senate bill 608 pass the senate but I cannot determine if it was signed into law yet. I've read about the 38 states that allow this but have not seen a list of those states.

I anxiously await the passing of this legislation. Its ridiculous that I can't go into my favorite restaurant for breakfast because they have a beer license used for selling beer to the dinner crowd. Same goes for lunch. So many places have beer and wine licenses for the dinner set that its hard to find a place for breakfast and lunch. We end up in MacDonalds a lot because of this.

[d90king]

Pa it is lawful to carry in a bar. I have never been one to believe that booze and guns mix, but to each his own...

[georgeshannon]

Well this year's special session resulted in this bill passing in New Mexico. Just need the governor to sign it now. Concealed carry will be allowed in restaurants serving beer and wine.

[Aguila Blanca]

But not restaurants serving hard "likker"?

That may work for locals, but how's a visitor/tourist supposed to know if a restaurant serves only beer and wine or if they serve the hard stuff? I guess it's an improvement, but it's a dumb one. It would be much easier to just allow concealed carry (or all carry) in the restaurant portion and not in the bar area (if the establishment has an actual "bar").

[Dial 1911 for Help]

Are they dropping like flies in PA? There you're not only allowed to carry in a bar, you can even drink! If not, what's all the ruckus?

Oh, BTW I love the mixed use bars in PA. Residential neighborhood and the last house on the corner is a bar. Driving down the road, pass a house out in the middle of nowhere, and it's a bar. 35 cent beers, and cheap mixed drinks too. I love it! Is it still like that?

[georgeshannon]

If its handled like Texas, the penalty for making a mistake was downgraded from a felony to a misdemeanor. I don't believe anyone really cares anymore if you carry concealed into a restaurant (unless its posted).

Luckily, our legislators know better than us that beer and wine can't make a person as drunk as distilled spirits can. Shoot, I thought the alcohol was the same. :lm:

[Dial 1911 for Help]

But is that misdemeanor still a "gun crime" that could cost a person his CCW or even his right to own guns for life?

I'd be more comfortable if it was downgraded all the way to an civil infraction, like a traffic ticket, or just treated like trespassing, where you have to leave when asked, and if you do, no harm no foul.

[Rich-D]

Are they dropping like flies in PA? There you're not only allowed to carry in a bar, you can even drink! If not, what's all the ruckus?

Oh, BTW I love the mixed use bars in PA. Residential neighborhood and the last house on the corner is a bar. Driving down the road, pass a house out in the middle of nowhere, and it's a bar. 35 cent beers, and cheap mixed drinks too. I love it! Is it still like that?

I have two Liquor Licensed Establishments in Philly, one is an After Hours Club. I do not exclude patrons who are licensed to carry. In fact, I never ran into an establishment who refuses legally armed citizens, nor have I heard of any problems. With the exception that armed robbery can be a dangerous fete for the perpetrators in a Philly bar.

Many street corners and sometimes in the middle of a row of homes have neighborhood taverns. But, the 35 cent beers no longer exist.

In so far as beer and wine versus liquor. A shot or a mixed drink contains 1 ounce of alcohol, a 12 oz beer contains 1.5 ounces of alcohol. From my personal experience, the beer drinkers are more prone to be rowdy and exhibit violent behavior. While the liquor drinkers seldom do. I don't recall a patron drinking wine ever causing a disturbance.

[georgeshannon]

The governor signed it into law yesterday. It takes effect july. Thank goodness.