House overrides veto of guns in bars bill
NASHVILLE — Tennessee House members voted on Wednesday to override the governor’s veto of a bill to allow handguns to be carried in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.
Gov Phil Bredesen
The final version of the bill previously passed the House on a 66-23 vote. All but one of the new votes for or against the measure came from lawmakers who were absent on the previous vote.
Nashville Rep. Beth Harwell, who was the only Republican to vote against the veto override Wednesday, previously abstained.
It takes 50 votes in the House and 17 in the Senate to turn back the veto. The bill passed the Senate 24-7 last month.
“I think the people have spoken,” Republican Rep. Curry Todd of Collierville, the bill’s primary sponsor, said after the vote. “This just gives folks an opportunity to protect themselves.”
Beth Harwell
Curry Todd
Chris Cox, chief lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, said he was pleased to see the “broad bipartisan support” for the bill.
“This is the first step in a two-step process to override the veto,” Cox said. “We now look forward to moving to the Senate.”
Before the vote, several lawmakers supporting the veto cited groups opposed to the bill. The list included law enforcement officials, district attorneys and hospitality organizations.
“When there’s so many organizations opposed to this legislation, it seems this Legislature should listen,” said Rep. Jimmy Naifeh, a Covington Democrat and former House speaker. “The very people we want to force this on do not want it. Why can’t we understand that?”
Jimmy Naifeh
But House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada of Franklin said the measure is necessary because “criminals are brandishing guns in restaurants and killing people.”
“I’m a firm believer that an armed citizen is a safe citizen,” he said.
Currently, 37 states have similar legislation.
Gov. Phil Bredesen spokeswoman Lydia Lenker said the Democratic governor expected an override when he vetoed the bill last week.
“He’s disappointed with this action but that doesn’t change his belief that we can exercise our Second Amendment rights and common sense at the same time,” she said. “He believes guns and bars simply don’t mix, and this legislation doesn’t provide the proper safeguards to ensure public safety.”
07 Jun 2009 01:45 pm morgan 0 comments
