http://www.tennessean.com/sii/00/05/04/guns04.shtml
House panel OKs bills on carrying handguns
Associated Press
The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation yesterday that would let owners leave their handguns in a locked car when they buy gas or go to dinner.
Tennessee's current handgun permit law says it's illegal to carry your gun onto property where alcohol is sold. That means you can't legally leave your gun in the car when you eat dinner where drinks are served or buy groceries or gasoline where beer is sold.
Committee members approved three bills involving handgun permit holders. One would liberalize the state's 5-year-old law that lets adults carry handguns, but two would tighten restrictions on when and where guns legally could be carried.
The Senate versions are awaiting action in the Judiciary Committee.
In the House, the committee members approved a bill that would let owners keep their guns in their vehicles when they enter property where alcohol is sold.
The second measure would require gun owners to keep their weapons locked and out of sight when they drive on to parks or playgrounds.
The third bill would let property owners bar permit holders from carrying handguns by posting a sign at all public entrances.
"We do not want people with guns strapped on going into schools or playgrounds or places to get food or drink," said the bills' sponsor, Rep. Ben West Jr., D-Nashville.
Still, he said, "we want people to know you're not breaking the law when you pull up to a gas station or restaurant or whatever."
West introduced the legislation last year but chose not to pursue it after two students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., killed 12 classmates and a teacher before shooting themselves to death on April 20, 1999.
He delayed for at least one day legislation that would apply handgun permit holder laws to other weapons, such as shotguns and rifles, after opponents raised objections.
"I don't want to be walking down the street and be confronted by someone with a shotgun. I think that's bad public policy," said Rep. Rob Briley, D-Nashville.
About 90,000 Tennesseans have permits to carry handguns.
© Copyright 2000 The Tennessean
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The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
House panel OKs bills on carrying handguns
Associated Press
The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation yesterday that would let owners leave their handguns in a locked car when they buy gas or go to dinner.
Tennessee's current handgun permit law says it's illegal to carry your gun onto property where alcohol is sold. That means you can't legally leave your gun in the car when you eat dinner where drinks are served or buy groceries or gasoline where beer is sold.
Committee members approved three bills involving handgun permit holders. One would liberalize the state's 5-year-old law that lets adults carry handguns, but two would tighten restrictions on when and where guns legally could be carried.
The Senate versions are awaiting action in the Judiciary Committee.
In the House, the committee members approved a bill that would let owners keep their guns in their vehicles when they enter property where alcohol is sold.
The second measure would require gun owners to keep their weapons locked and out of sight when they drive on to parks or playgrounds.
The third bill would let property owners bar permit holders from carrying handguns by posting a sign at all public entrances.
"We do not want people with guns strapped on going into schools or playgrounds or places to get food or drink," said the bills' sponsor, Rep. Ben West Jr., D-Nashville.
Still, he said, "we want people to know you're not breaking the law when you pull up to a gas station or restaurant or whatever."
West introduced the legislation last year but chose not to pursue it after two students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., killed 12 classmates and a teacher before shooting themselves to death on April 20, 1999.
He delayed for at least one day legislation that would apply handgun permit holder laws to other weapons, such as shotguns and rifles, after opponents raised objections.
"I don't want to be walking down the street and be confronted by someone with a shotgun. I think that's bad public policy," said Rep. Rob Briley, D-Nashville.
About 90,000 Tennesseans have permits to carry handguns.
© Copyright 2000 The Tennessean
------------------
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
