If you don't live in Tennessee you may have missed this one, but our state legislature has just passed a bill that says if you have a carry permit, you can take your gun with you to any restaurant. The old law said you couldn't have a firearm in any place that served alcohol, but obviously that was way too confining for some.
Now I'm not taking sides in this. I own a pistol, a couple of rifles, and an old shotgun and, given about 30 minutes notice, I could probably load one and fire it. It doesn't seem to make much sense to give people permission to carry a gun where they're serving liquor. Heck, they even made you check your firearms when Wyatt Earp was the sheriff in Dodge City. The sacred "right to bear arms" isn't the question, though, in my book.
The real issue is this.......given that we have record unemployment, record numbers of foreclosures, and a state budget crisis that is causing cuts at all of our colleges, was taking a pistol to Outback the most pressing issue these guys had to deal with? And further, when did not having a pistol at dinner become a problem? Frankly, if I have to take a gun to my favorite restaurant, it will no longer be my favorite restaurant.
Makes you wonder what in the world these knuckleheads are thinking. Talking about wasting taxpayer's money! This is yet another example of government creating a solution for which there was no problem. What are we solving with this? Are we improving anyone's quality of life? What are you expecting to happen at dinner that would require a firearm? I've given my share of grief to servers in my day, but nothing involving ammunition. That may be one upside...I'll bet the service level will improve. Just lay the old pistola on the table where the server can see it and I'll bet you get your meal first every time.
Oh, one thing I forgot to mention. The legislators showed great restraint by stating in the bill that you could NOT carry a firearm in a restaurant after 11:00 pm. That means if you're eating a late dinner, you have to put the gun back in the truck at 11. (I make the assumption here that if you're taking a gun to a restaurant, you're probably driving a truck.) So does this mean the restaurant manager has to frisk everyone at 11? I'll tell you, this whole thing is a joke!
Well, for those of you who might visit our state, be careful! But at least we might give other states something to laugh about. I'm sure Leno and Letterman will be all over this. I used to say that Mississippi was the only state that Arkansas could make fun of - but now I'm not so sure.
Till next time......
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