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Inconsistent

TN Governor Bredesen May 2009:

to carry a concealed weapon into a crowded bar at midnight on a Saturday night defies common sense.

Guns and alcohol don’t mix

He vetoed the bill that allowed those with handgun carry permits to carry in places that serve alcohol as long as they didn’t drink. But last week, he signed into law a bill that allows off duty police to carry concealed weapons into places that serve alcohol. I guess police have magical powers to ward off booze that they kept trying to tell us permit holders would drink while carrying, even though that’s still illegal.

Also, note the press coverage. When it’s for police they refer to establishments that serve alcohol. When it’s for handgun carry permit holders, they’re all bars.

13 Responses to “Inconsistent”

  1. Reputo Says:

    Why is everyone all about guns and alcohol don’t mix? Alcohol is a decent solvent and can be used to clean firearms (ok, it is not as good as some other solvents, but lacking anything else it will do). The great thing about it is it evaporates quickly so wiping up spills is a breeze. Now I wouldn’t advise using beer to clean your sidearm, but if you are in a bar and feel the need, order a shot or two of Everclear and you should be fine.

  2. Sailorcurt Says:

    At least the anti-gunners are consistently inconsistent.

    The same things happened in Virginia. Two years ago, Kaine vetoed a law that would allow CHP holders to carry concealed in restaurants that serve alcohol (Virginia doesn’t have bars) provided they didn’t drink…a few days later, he signed a law that allowed Commonwealth’s attorneys to carry concealed, WITHOUT A LICENSE or any training, in those same establishments…with NO prohibition on drinking while carrying.

    This one wasn’t even about cops who, on paper anyway, are trained…this was about LAWYERS carrying concealed firearms with no training required.

    BTW: I second Reputo’s comment about alcohol being a dandy cleaner/degreaser for firearms. Only I recommend using denatured alcohol only because it’s cheaper…no sin taxes on it.

  3. JKB Says:

    Firstly, the Governor obviously has Congressional aspirations since he apparently hadn’t read the bill when he vetoed it. A crowded bar at midnight would almost exclusively be one that was restricted to 21 and over, thus carry wouldn’t be permitted.

    Secondly, off duty police have carried in “establishments the serve alcohol” already. They had little fear of legal issues if found out since the other cops would ignore it. Were they involved in a shooting, it would be better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6.

  4. SayUncle Says:

    Actually, the governor has been pro-gun on every gun bill but that one.

  5. ATLien Says:

    You see now why a lot of people have a “destroy them all” mentality?

  6. Manish Says:

    When it’s for police they refer to establishments that serve alcohol. When it’s for handgun carry permit holders, they’re all bars.

    not sure of the specifics of either bill, but “establishments that serve alcohol” would include restaurants while the term “bar” implies a place that is primarily a place to have a drink.

  7. Pol Mordreth Says:

    manish:
    There are no bars in Tennessee. Period. You have to be a restaurant to serve alcohol for on premises consumption. The prior law did not allow permit holders or police not on official business to carry in establishments that server alcohol. The 2 new exceptions to the prohibition on weapons in these establishments are for police officers, whether on duty or off, and for permit holders. Uncle is pointing out the hypocracy of the media in calling these places ‘bars’ for one of those exceptions and ‘establishments that serve alcohol’ for the other.

    Remember, police are convicted of violent felonies at a rate of around 8 times what permit holders do nationally. They are more dangerous, not less, than permit holders.

    Regards,
    Pol

  8. Sailorcurt Says:

    My apologies. You are, of course, correct. I should have tempered my characterization a little bit.

    Tim Kaine ran on a pro-2A platform, but has vetoed virtually every pro-gun bill that has reached his desk. I’d trade him for Bredesen any day.

    Fortunately, both of the contenders in the upcoming VA gubernatorial race have strong pro-2A records so, unless there is a sea change in the General Assembly (not likely), we’ve got a pretty bright outlook for the next four years.

  9. Manish Says:

    Pol..I haven’t lived in TN for about 10 years, but as I recall, there were establishments that didn’t really sell food and primarily sold booze. In California, there is a distinction (I think its whether you have more than 50% of your sales as alcohol sales). Bars don’t allow under-age patrons, while restaurants do allow under-age patrons and there are other such rules.

  10. Howie Feltersnatch Says:

    An oldie but a goodie. I give him credit for the little speech at the 1:23 mark. I guess he realized his government job and pension might be at stake. Emphasis on the “might” given the way most jurisdictions civil service rules work.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw-jTCNZSmY

    http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/gunsafety.asp

  11. alphonse Says:

    pol, you say:

    “Remember, police are convicted of violent felonies at a rate of around 8 times what permit holders do nationally.”

    Do you have a source for that handy?

  12. ArdRhi Says:

    My chapter of the Pink Pistols has met for lunch at a sports bar/restaurant for the last 8 years. We go shooting afterwards. NOT ONCE has any of my people EVER ordered alcoholic beverage while there, while carrying a firearm. Not one time in 8 years.

    My people would sooner jump into a swimming pool full of rusty razor blades than drink while carrying. Individual responsibility is their life’s blood. Note that this is in Pennsylvania, which has never had a restriction on carrying in “establishments that serve alcohol”.

  13. Pol Mordreth Says:

    manish,
    there are places here that don’t really serve food, but they are violating the alcohol sales law. If they get audited, they will get shut down unless they are really cooking their books. There is also no requirements for any establishments in TN to card for entry unless they allow smoking inside. The places that do card after a certain hour are doing so for their own convenience, not to meet any legal requirement.

    Alphonse, i will try to find that study again – i think i have to dig through Dave hardy’s blog for it.

    Regards,
    Pol

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