For safety sake, Tennessee cannot relax its gun laws
Over a breakfast of sausage gravy atop flaky homemade biscuits, two scrambled eggs, thick slices of Brandywine tomatoes, grits, hot black coffee and Florida orange juice, consider this: The guy two seats over is packing heat.
And as you sip your glass of Merlot or guzzle a lime-green margarita, imagine that you may soon be able to play a new game some Tennessee legislators want to introduce in bars across the state “Duck, Duck, Shoot.”
Lawmakers, like Rep. Jason Mumpower, R-Bristol, want to relax the current law, which prevents anyone other than on-duty law enforcement officers from carrying a gun where alcohol is served.
The new law they propose would let people with gun permits carry concealed weapons into bars and restaurants as long as they don’t drink. It is part of something they call “Safe Homes, Safe Neighborhoods and a Safe Tennessee” plan.
Right.
At the very least, let’s call it what it is, the Republican plan for “Safe Bars.” Similar flawed efforts have failed. This one should never have been reintroduced. It benefits no one.
Mumpower says he supports the bill because he got calls from people who wanted to carry a gun while they dined or went to bars where, again, they promise they won’t drink (wink, wink).
The esteemed, but clearly misguided, legislator ought to listen to what the Tennessee Restaurant Association says. They say it is a dumb idea.
And just maybe, the learned legislator might pay heed to the Tennessee Chiefs of Police Association. They say it is an even dumber idea.
So call Mumpower. Tell him you don’t want to go out for a night on the town and wonder if the couple at the next table has a .38-caliber pistol or 9 mm revolver tucked into a purse or waistband. Tell him Tennessee is sending a ridiculous message to our families, tourists and would-be residents.