New Tennessee Gun Laws Hurting Tourism and State’s Rep

Picture yourself strolling along on vacation when you notice that several restaurants you pass have “No Handguns Allowed” signs on their front doors. While this may indicate that the interior of the restaurant is safe it would likely lead you to wonder why the neighborhood needs these signs, should you be worried about gun violence, etc.

This is exactly the problem that local Convention and Visitor’s Bureaus are saying has caused a drop in tourism to the state. New gun laws passed last year allowed those citizens who own a concealed weapons permit to carry those weapons into public establishments like restaurants or bars and this has potential travelers worried.

According to this article from The Tennessean, other cities across the country have also used the new laws to paint our cities in a negative light when competing for conference and event venues. Conventions are big money makers and it seems that some people may be playing dirty, capitalizing on these laws and making our cities look bad.

Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, however, is just one person who believes the media should be blamed and not the law itself. The law does not allow just anyone to carry a concealed weapon. It only applies to those who already have a permit and in case you’re wondering, getting a concealed weapon permit is no walk in the park.

Cities can decide to make their own ordinances banning the weapons, as this blog post details, but some of the larger Tennessee cities like Nashville and Memphis have let the law stand as written.

Being able to possess a firearm is a right guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the US Constitution. The potential dangers of firearms, however, have led to countless federal, state, and local laws governing the possession and use of these weapons. Being caught in violation of these laws isn’t that difficult as there are simply so many to navigate.

The most commonly charged firearm offense in our state is Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon. This crime is a Class C misdemeanor in most instances. While this is the most commonly seen charge, it is far from the only.

Being caught in violation of a gun law can have disastrous effects on your future. If you are up against the state of Tennessee in the criminal court system, you need the assistance of a local defense attorney.

Contact me today to discuss the circumstances of your case and to see how I can help.