Welcome to Memphis! Please Check Your Gun at The Door.

How do you say howdy to out-of-town company?

At Memphis’ top tourist attraction, visitors to Beale Street are often greeted with hand-held metal detectors and large signs that prohibit firearms.

Sounds like a great place to bring the family.

Why the Friendly Greeting?

Tennessee guns in bars laws allow people with licenses to carry guns in places that serve alcohol, unless signs are posted prohibiting weapons. Downtown Memphis being, well, downtown Memphis, Beale Street restaurant and bar owners thought it best for customers to leave the guns at home. According to a Beale Street spokesperson, guns have no place on Beale Street.

Who Would Bring a Gun to Beale Street?

Seems like quite a few folks. Security personnel say they have confiscated a number of guns, as well as knives and other weapons.

Who Cares?

Hopefully Tennessee will not get the same rap as Arizona. Arthur Frommer of the well-known travel publication Frommers advised that he personally was avoiding travel to Arizona after armed protestors legally carried assault rifles and other weapons outside a place where the president was speaking. Mr. Frommer observed: “The continued tolerance of extremists carrying guns is a frightening development...” Read more at Mr. Frommer’s blog post.

The bottom line.

Beale street draws more than two million annual visitors. More out of town travelers visit Beale Street than Graceland or any other tourist attraction in the Memphis area. Beale Street is critical to the tourism industry in Memphis.

It boils down to taxes. Beale Street funds payments for about 1/3 of the bonds for the $250 million construction cost of FedEx Forum. If Beale Street folds, Shelby County will be footing the bill for FedEx Forum. That will not be popular in Collierville.

Although Beale Street may be arguably safer with metal detectors, the appearance to the casual visitor is far from positive. Metal detectors and no handgun signs make visitors worry that the entertainment district is not safe. Safe places do not need metal detectors and no gun signs. In fact, safe places do not need guns at all.

Guns Gone Wild

Wednesday, March 10, 2010, Representative Todd Curry introduced an amendment to his pending guns in bars legislation that expands the law to apply to all places that have liquor licenses or beer permits. The original law proposed to allow guns in restaurants, but not hotels, entertainment venues and private clubs. Under the new legislation, it will be legal to tote your six shooter to the next Titans – Ravens game at L.P. Field.

The amended statute is apparently a direct response to the arguments we asserted in the Chancery Court guns lawsuit, which led to overturning the guns law last summer. Under the old law, it was difficult to tell if you were entering a bar or a restaurant. You could only pack heat at restaurants.

The standard under the revised law is simple. If you can buy a drink, you can carry your gun.

The new rule does not just sound stupid. It is stupid.

The majority of the Tennessee legislature has sold out to a small group of vocal gun advocates. The proposal is contrary to sound business principles and puts Tennessee at a competitive disadvantage in drawing tourists.

Let’s speak with our votes in the next election cycle. Cast your vote for a candidate that supports business and job creation. Cast your vote against legislators that put guns ahead of business.