NBC Nashville Channel 5 - Legislature Debating Proposed CCW Gun Law Changes

NBC Nashville Channel 5 - Legislature Debating Proposed CCW Gun Law Changes
Feb 25, 2009 ~ Nashville, Tenn.

- What lawmakers decide about gun rights could have a major impact on you - and the 200,000 gun permit owners in Tennessee.

Where you can and cannot carry a gun has been a major focus on Capitol Hill. One idea would allow people to carry a gun in a state park - including Bicentennial Park just north of the capitol building.

The Democrats hate the idea, but this year the Republicans may have the upper hand.

If anyone has an opinion about gun laws, it's Marianne Purcell. A gunman fatally shot her fiancé while he was working at Bellacino's back in 2007.

"This guy was full of life," she says. "All of his dreams were about to come true."

Purcell often wonders how that night would have been different if someone had been carrying a gun.

"What if a customer would have been in that store and had a weapon and was able to protect them? Maybe the outcome would have been different. For that very reason I am starting to lean towards supporting this piece of legislation," says Purcell.

Republicans are pushing for a bill that would allow permit holders to carry a gun into a restaurant where alcohol is served. The bill includes stipulations that the person with a weapon could not drink or carry after 11 p.m. - and the gun would have to be concealed.

"We got to realize the state of Tennessee is one of the most dangerous states in the nation right now," says State Rep. Eric Watson (R).

Watson points to FBI data that shows several Tennessee cities as having high crime rates. He says the data suggests a greater need for protection.

"Who's going to be the one that says, I am sorry. I cannot serve you because you are carrying a gun.' That's my problem with that," says State Rep. Janis Sontany (D).

Sontany wonders how the law would be enforces. She also hates another bill that would allow people to carry guns in state and local parks.

"I don't think our state parks are dangerous places to be," she says.

Others would disagree, citing a fatal bear attack two years ago in Polk County.

"Out of the 21 people, no one had a firearm to combat the bear with, to get the bear off the little girl," says Watson.

Marianne Purcell will have a front row seat to any sort of change, she's State Rep Eric Watson's legislative assistant. Her goal is to make sure families of loved ones lost in violence have a voice.

"I am in a place where I can make a difference, and a lot of these families that lose their loved ones. They don't have that voice," says Purcell.

Democrats admit the proposals - which have failed before - have a good chance of passing with a new Republican majority.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• gun
• laws
• ccw
• concealed carry
• debate
• nashville
• Tennessee
• nbc

[LiveOutLoudUSA]

yea someone could get hurt. the GOOD PEOPLE GET HURT when GOOD PEOPLE ARENT ARMED! only law abiding citizens follow the law. SO. that being said.. had they're been 1 ccw holder. 2 ccw holders. hell, 3 or more. do you think these nutjobs that carry out theyre massmurder/suicides would stand a chance? even more important..the situation turns from shooter on unarmed VICTIMS to shooter on shooter! it's a risk we take.. respect us for it

[chapmasi]

I never understand the mental reasoning of people who object to citizens carrying firearms. 95% (prob more) of Legal firearm owners use them responsibly and within the confines of the law. The idiots/criminals who own guns without permits will carry no matter what the law tells them. The only people you penalise are law abiding citizens.

Personally I would be more scared of being killed by some stupid teenage girl driving daddy's Ford Explorer straight into me whilst shes txting on her phone.

[Bullseye5477]

As long as national parks allow admittance to felons, drug addicts, child molesters, con artists, murderers, rapist, illegal immigrants, sociopaths, psychopaths, lawyers, politicians and mentally ill people, then I, a sane law abiding citizen should be able to carry a firearm within the park as well.

[13mrscullen13]

i don't think that people should be able to carry guns i know Joshuah Scott Cole personalty (the 18 year old killed in the Bellancao's murder in October 2007) i also wonder what would have happened differently that night if someone would have had a gun but i don't think it is a good idea because someone could get really hurt

[southernreign1]

It is nice to know 1 out of every 31 Tennesseeans has a legal right to carry a handgun concealed. Watch out bad guys.... you might get shot by your victim.

[purebbc]

I'm a law abiding citizen who plans on getting a gun in the near future so that I can protect myself from people who are out to randomly just do harm so that I or anyone that I love does not become a victim of a person with nothing to lose

[radioactivesludge23]

no guns should be brought into a bar or a state park national parks yes dangerous game Animals like bear and cougars but state parks absoulylty not

[beerbrewer737]

This is just so wrong!! Allowing law abiding citizens, who have an HCP the right to protect themselves is so very wrong.

I mean only those who were to do you harm should carry.

(Tongue in cheek)