The people who write the law books in Tennessee seldom are seldom considered intellectuals. They may (or may not) be smart, knowledgeable individuals, but it is difficult for us citizens to see them as such. Our legislators just don’t do a lot to lead us towards a perception of them as logical, intelligent beings.
In fact, they usually act to the contrary.
Recently we saw our potential to buy a nice Pinot in Kroger fade away—at least for now. I suspect this had a lot more to do with the lobbying of liquor stores than any well-reasoned decision.
A sealed bottle of Merlot cannot safely share a shelf with a loaf of bread, but a poured glass is perfectly accompanied by a Glock.
Of course, I am referring to the still very alive proposal to allow firearms into bars.
I own guns. I enjoy shooting targets. I like the big boom my Magnum makes. I shot my first rifle somewhere around second grade. I do not favor turning my firearms over to any government official.
I’ve also had a great deal—I mean a lot—of experience with the effects of alcohol. I have too many stories about its impact on judgment. I know all about reduced inhibitions and heightened emotions as the result of a few pints. These effects are enough to anchor a strong argument against guns in bars. But when you add in the impact alcohol has on accuracy, it makes the proposal seem simply ludicrous.
I don’t see any good reason to introduce guns and ammo into a beer soaked crowd.
I’m not certain why Tennessee state politicians feel we need to open up the bar to guns. Is there a great deal of game hiding somewhere amongst the stools and kegs? Is the bouncer allowing so many rapists and muggers in that we need to arm ourselves against them?
It’s a stupid, stupid idea.
Can’t we maintain the tradition of barroom brawls to prove our drunken manhood? Now any little pussy can just plug a cap in your ass if you bump him off his stool or check out his girlfriend’s rack.
But Tennessee has a well-established history of passing stupid laws. Many of these are still on the books—the electronic books I have access to at my new bullshit bureaucrat job.
For instance, engaging in any of the following activities could get you into trouble with the state of Tennessee. These are the abbreviated wordings of laws available this Tuesday to the State Board of Probation and Parole:
- Defrauding an innkeeper.
- Mayhem.
- Selling children.
- Crime against nature.
- Homosexual-Male.
- Homosexual-Female.
- Homosexual acts.
- Taking female from parents.
- Creating a false impression of death.
- Desecration of a venerated object.
- Taking fish caught by another.
- Failure to disqualify a horse during a horse show.
- Handling snake as to endanger life.
- Failure to provide separate toilets for women.
- Charge for the use of a public toilet facility.
- Failure to observe standard time.
- Depriving civil rights to a person born out of wedlock.
- Violation of marketing of pecans.
- Failure to confine proud bitch.
- Fishing with explosives.
It seems we really shouldn’t expect much from the state legislature. Not only have they put the aforementioned laws in place for us all to follow; they tell us that allowing patrons to smoke in a bar is a danger to our health, but a drunk with a .45 is not really any threat at all.
