AG Appeals Guns in Bars Ruling

The Tennessee Attorney General will appeal a ruling that overturned a law allowing handguns in restaurants that serve alcohol. The notice of appeal was filed Tuesday.

The law was passed by the legislature after overriding a veto by Governor Phil Bredesen. It allowed permitted handgun carriers to take guns into a restaurant even if it sold alcohol. A restaurant owner sued to overturn the law. Davidson County Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman ruled last month the law was unconstitutionally vague.

The Attorney General says the notice of appeal was filed because the office still believes that the statute is “legally defensible.” In a statement, a spokesperson says “while the legislature may take action in the future that will moot the appeal, it is this office’s responsibility to defend laws that are currently in place.”

Attorney Will Cheek represents the restaurants who sued to overturn the so-called “guns in bars” law. He says “the state is wasting more of our taxpayer dollars on this ridiculous law.”