Tennessee to Allow Guns in the Bar?

Tennessee - State Senate voted to allow guns in businesses that served alcohol such as bars and restaurants. The vote was 24-6 in favor of allowing people with handgun carry permits to carry that gun into a place where alcohol is served.

34 other states allow citizens with gun carry permits into businesses that serve alcoholic beverages, Senator Doug Jackson of Dickson said. He said Tennessee should be next.

"I've played in bars for many, many years," said entertainer Duncan Houston, who thinks state lawmakers are going too far.
"One time we were playing in a bar and a big fight broke out and the next thing you know you hear pop, pop, pop and there's a guy who brought a gun out and started shooting randomly," he said. "Thank God nobody was hit."

He said he's not an anti-gun person. He believes in a person's right to carry a gun, but not where there's alcohol. "I think it's just a bad idea," he said.

Under the proposal in the Senate the person carrying the gun into a bar or restaurant cannot drink. Business owners can still try and stop people from bringing guns onto their property by posting a sign saying no guns or firearms are allowed.
A version of this bill is also in the House. The governor must sign it before it becomes law.