America! III

So I really enjoy America! (and America! II) and lo and behold America! III has come to my backyard.



This message speaks to someone!

On a related note, Tennessee lawmakers passed a law each of the last two years allowing handgun permit holders to bring guns into bars and restaurants (Huffington Post: Tennessee Lawmakers Allow Guns In Bars), which have subsequently been vetoed by the Governor (CA: Gov. Bredesen vetoes bill to allow guns in Tennessee bars) and had the veto overridden by simple majority in the State House and Senate (Tennessean: Tennessee House overrides guns-in-bars veto).  Last year's bill was deemed unconstitutional, but unfortunately this year's bill was not so now permit holders, as long as they don't drink while carrying (Enforcement? Ha!), can take a handgun into any bar and restaurant in the state unless the establishment has individually banned handguns.

Apparently this topic must be quite important to some people considering how much airtime it has received and how it has taken precedence over other topics that seem slightly more relevant (The Economy? Healthcare? The United States of Space?  Tennessee Football?).  One of the bill's sponsor's from a Memphis suburb had this to say: "To be honest, it's just another example of the governor vetoing a bill and never getting involved...and his lack of respect for the handgun-carry permit holders in Tennessee..."  Maybe the governor realizes this type of legislation maybe shouldn't be such a high priority right now?  Or maybe he actually disagrees with the law?  Crazy!

Well at least the Chicago City Council is fighting the good fight voting 45-0 to ban gun shops in Chicago and prohibit gun owners from stepping outside their homes with a handgun (WSJ: Chicago Approves Tough New Handgun Restrictions).