Metro Davidson Council seeks to override HB0962 on local level

[eapking]

Well no surprise. The idiots here in Memphis/Shelby County will get wind of this and try it themselves. Short-lived joy here.

[OhShoot]

How could this possibly be legal, to duck a state wide statute like this?

Think of all the carry permit holders not only from TN but from other states, who look at state law, then show up in good faith they are following state law, only to be possibly arrested in a municipality.

Surely, the state AG or his office can put the kibosh on these end runs somehow?

- OS

[JayC]

How could this possibly be legal, to duck a state wide statute like this?

Think of all the carry permit holders not only from TN but from other states, who look at state law, then show up in good faith they are following state law, only to be possibly arrested in a municipality.

Surely, the state AG or his office can put the kibosh on these end runs somehow?

- OS

Well, it seems the thought process is they aren't banning guns, they just banning businesses who don't ban guns. And since the beer board is under local city government, they argue it doesn't violate current state law.

Clearly 39-17-1314 seems to prevent this, but I don't want to be the test case...

Best bet is to put pressure on the Metro Council to not move forward because this would violate 39-17-1314 and the will of the people of TN. Second best is to try and get the Legislature to close this type of loophole once and for all.

[Billco]

I just emailed Michael Craddock and Tim Garrett. Being in the hotel/tourism industry for about 20 yrs, that's the angle I took. ie people leaving the county for dining and entertainment and the consideration for Nashville for conventions; the convention planners look at every little thing about prospective sites. It will cost us revenue and add expense in litigation in a time of recessed economy and budget tightening. Maybe they'll listen ... will keep you posted

[kcnative]

Already getting responses:

I am with you.
Thank you for your input.
Karen Bennett
Council District 8

[kcnative]

Another insightful reply from Mr. Tygard:

Thanks for writing

Charlie Tygard

[tlondon]

I dont know if it will do any good as I live in Clarksville, but I just e-mailed ALL the council members and explained that I do alot of dining in Nashville and if the do this there will be alot of money leaving Nashville and going to surrounding counties.

[JayC]

I just emailed Michael Craddock and Tim Garrett. Being in the hotel/tourism industry for about 20 yrs, that's the angle I took. ie people leaving the county for dining and entertainment and the consideration for Nashville for conventions; the convention planners look at every little thing about prospective sites. It will cost us revenue and add expense in litigation in a time of recessed economy and budget tightening. Maybe they'll listen ... will keep you posted

Here are some key talking points...

1. The ordinance as currently worded not only bans HCP Holders but would appear to place a ban on owners and employees from carrying inside their businesses to protect themselves. So they're not just preventing HCP carry, they're also removing rights business owners have today and have had for years.

2. Passing this ordinance will impose a 3-4% loss or more on Davidson County Restaurants while places in Mt Juliet, CoolSprings, Smyrna, and Hendersonville will not have to turn away these customers. This will drive away law abiding citizens from Davidson County restaurants which costs the businesses and the county income and taxes.

3. Arguments that having to post signs may hurt or drive away business are unreasonable. Current law requires that business already have no firearms signs posted (if they serve beer), in all likely hood the additional signage would go unnoticed.

4. Passing an ordinance that if different than the rest of the state needs to required additional signage because we need to inform these law abiding citizens that Metro is different from the rest of the state (which further invalidates #3).

5. It's likely the ordinance would violate 39-17-1314 and it's very likely that the NRA or some other Gun Owners organization will file suit over the ordinance, costing tax payers to spend money defending an illegal ordinance.

6. Other tourism heavy states such as Florida and Texas have allowed restaurant carry for many years, and have had few if any problems resulting from allowing permit holders carry in restaurants. The facts don't support that either state lost tourism dollars from passing restaurant carry laws.

7. Owners today can post their businesses if they do not wish to have HCP holders as customers, while business who may wish to cater to these customers may choose not to post. Just like with smoking bans, the local business owner should be able to make up his mind whether he allows carry or not, the council should not force business to turn away these customers in this economy.

8. HCP Holders aren't the problem, criminals (who can't legally get permits) are the problem, we can cite a number of attacks involving firearms locally over the last few years, but nobody can document a case of a HCP holder illegally opening fire in a restaurant.

9. Does the council member eat at Shoney's or McD's (insert restaurant name here)? If so they most likely have been sitting down to eat next to a permit holder over the last 12+ years, have they felt unsafe in those restaurants?

9. These same claims that blood would run in the street were published in the papers 12+ years ago when HCP was passed, and that is far from the truth, today HCP holders have some of the best safety records of anybody legally (or illegally) carrying firearms in the state.

Hope that helps... Sorry for the rant...

[JayC]

Already getting responses:

I am with you.
Thank you for your input.
Karen Bennett
Council District 8

Good news, what district is Karen over?

[RinTN]

...
Hope that helps... Sorry for the rant...

I wouldn't call that a rant by any means - just a solid attempt to help others present the facts to those who need to understand the situation. IMO, it's people like you who are willing to take the time to construct posts of this nature that give us the best ammunition for shooting down inane, and almost certainly illegal, local ordinances like the proposed.