House overrides Governor's veto on guns in restaurants

State Senate expected to follow suit in the coming days

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

The Tennessee House of Representatives has voted to override Gov. Phil Bredesen's veto on the controversial "guns in restaurants" bill. The State Senate is expected to follow suit. The vote was 69 to 27, an increase of three votes from the original passage numbers.

The bill was spearheaded in the House by State Rep. Curry Todd (R-Memphis), who prior to the override vote introduced the executive director of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action, Chris Cox, and other NRA officials who were on hand to witness the proceedings.

Last week, Bredesen – flanked by more than 50 law enforcement officials from across the state – vetoed the legislation, calling it "reckless" and saying it "defied common sense." He did admit at the time that he believed his veto would be overridden but that he hoped legislators would reconsider.

Todd and a majority of the House obviously disagreed with Bredesen's assessment. Countering Bredesen's move on flanking himself with law enforcement, Todd did the same and was joined at the podium by members of the Tennessee House who are also law enforcement officials.

Prior to today's vote, former Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh gave a brief but impassioned speech against the bill, citing law enforcement officials' objections and the concerns of the Tennessee Restaurant Association.

State Rep. Glen Casada (R-Franklin) rose to rebut Naifeh and said that "an armed citizen is a safe citizen." He added that the "bad guys" are already bringing guns into bars and restaurants and people who have gone through the mandatory eight hours of training to have a carry permit can now protect him and his family.

UPDATED 4:30 p.m. -- Bredesen spokeswoman Lydia Lenker issued this reaction to the veto override:

"Governor Bredesen said last week when he vetoed this bill that he expected an override. 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. He believes guns and bars simply don't mix, and this legislation doesn't provide the proper safeguards to ensure public safety. Governor Bredesen stands by his decision to veto the bill."