Judge Signs Order - No Guns in Bars

Today, the judge signed the order striking down the guns in bars law. It is official.

As of now, no word on whether the state will appeal the ruling. Check back for more details.

Check Your Pistol at the Restaurant Door

Minutes ago, the Chancery Court threw out Tennessee's law that allows gun-permit holders to carry guns in places that serve alcoholic beverages. The Court agreed with our position that the law is unconstitutionally vague.

As of now, the law is invalid. Gun-permit holders can no longer legally carry firearms into places that serve alcoholic beverages. The case may be appealed, and certainly the legislature will take a look at the law again when they reconvene early next year.

For restaurant and bar owners, until it is generally known that you cannot carry a gun any more, I would leave "no gun signs" posted.

A big thanks to fellow attorneys David Randolph Smith, David Raybin, Adam Dread and Tom Lee that fought with me to overturn this law.

Gun Permit Holders Not All Good Apples

As we approach the hearing that may decide whether Tennessee's Guns in Bars Law is struck down, national organizations are offering research that shows a disturbing number of gun-permit holders are also dangerous murderers. Tallied from police reports, one group reports that 8 law enforcement officers and 77 private citizens have been killed by gun-permit holders since May 2007. Chalk up 8 mass murders to gun-permit holders.

View the results, with underlying descriptions of each shooting

Most gun-permit holders are certainly not murderers, but the stats support our position that guns should not be carried into bars.

Guns Court Hearing Friday November 20

The Court date has been reset to 9 am Friday November 20, 2009. The hearing is in Chancery Court Part I, on the Fourth Floor of the Davidson County Courthouse.

The time of the hearing may change, so check back for updates.