Tenn. lawmaker arrested on DUI, gun charges

[brentwoodgirl]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

For what it's worth, I think it's working.

Regarding Curry Todd he seems to be the opposite of a myriad of lawmakers seeking to outlaw their demons.

Yes, that was my thought too. He sponsored a law that allows guns in bars and then was found drunk with a gun. Not too shocking.

Hopefully he will be prosecuted fully for putting people's lives at risk while DUI.

[donsabi]

My comment stems from a previous post about the lack of the local news media to report all the news and instead spending most of the air time gabbing about the Vols. If you listen to the news stations out of Knoxville you might get the impression that nothing ever happens in east Tennessee. At the same time I get loads of stories off the web about corruption in local TN governments. So why isn't there any investigative reporting? I know there is corruption in all government and Tennessee is no exception.

hipnapster,

Your posts remind me of that of a teen girl who heard something she doesn't like. Her reaction, and your reaction is, if you don't like it leave. She and you go on to try to discredit the person who said that statement you consider so awful without good sense or reason. As a veteran I have the right to live anywhere in the US I please. (How is it that you seem to believe I am not from TN)? I also have the right to point out, complain, critique anything I view as being improper or inappropriate by any government, politician, or news media. BTW, I got the Todd story off the web.

As to your statement Todd is one of a kind. What about the republican Desjarlais who was accused by his wife of dry firing a gun outside her bedroom door, threatening suicide, and holding a gun to his head and pulling the trigger with no bullets? I just read a brief about a Unicoi county official being indicted.
If I continue I would have to extend this post by pages. It's all on on the web. Why not on the TV news?

Tennessee is a nice place to live but it sure is not perfect. Without good investigative journalism we are blind to the workings and actions of our elected officials. I prefer to live life with the blinders off.

[An Einnseanair]

My complaint about the topic is that, for the most part, if you only read headlines or listen to the news, you'd think the guy was waiving a gun around and pointing at people, or at least had a loaded gun physically on her person (definition of "carrying"). In reality, the gun was simply stuffed down between his seat and the console. From everything I've seen, the gun stayed there in the vehicle. Meaning he didn't actually break his own law by carrying a weapon into a bar and then drinking while carrying. Yes, he was in possession of a weapon while intoxicated, and he should be penalized for that, but there is no hypocrisy.

As for the DUI, I agree with others that the first DUI penalty should be a MAJOR one. Temporary loss of license, huge fine, jail time, etc. A second offense should be a PERMANENT loss of license.

And, because he's an elected official, a leader, and someone responsible for creating the laws he's breaking, I'm of the opinion that all criminal penalties should be automatically doubled.

[hiknapster]

The headline doesn't say he's waving a gun around.

However, I don't think you read the story or understand it, perhaps. Maybe but maybe not.

To reiterate, he sponsored a bill that allowed people with permits to bring a gun into a bar. Of course, that is while not being intoxicated. And they aren't sure he was in a bar or not. Either way, the police considered him to be "almost falling down" drunk and having a gun in the console is considered carrying it while drunk. But yes, the DUI is the obvious offense.

I think what has people rolling their eyes is the fact that he argued while fighting for his bill that gun owner's would "be careful."

"The burden is not going to be on the restaurant owner, it's going to be on the individual, because he's going to know that he has a chance there if he's caught to lose his gun permit forever," Todd said.

Originally Posted by jwkilgore

My complaint about the topic is that, for the most part, if you only read headlines or listen to the news, you'd think the guy was waiving a gun around and pointing at people, or at least had a loaded gun physically on her person (definition of "carrying"). In reality, the gun was simply stuffed down between his seat and the console. From everything I've seen, the gun stayed there in the vehicle. Meaning he didn't actually break his own law by carrying a weapon into a bar and then drinking while carrying. Yes, he was in possession of a weapon while intoxicated, and he should be penalized for that, but there is no hypocrisy.

As for the DUI, I agree with others that the first DUI penalty should be a MAJOR one. Temporary loss of license, huge fine, jail time, etc. A second offense should be a PERMANENT loss of license.

And, because he's an elected official, a leader, and someone responsible for creating the laws he's breaking, I'm of the opinion that all criminal penalties should be automatically doubled.

[Dd714]

"Guns in Bars" is a misleading headline. Places that serve alcohol can include Applebees, Olive Garden, The local Mexian Resteraunt, practically any resteraunt. The TN law says you cannot consume alchohol while carrying in any regards. Legal carry concealed permit holders are already vetted - that includes training, fingerprinting, and assorted law enforcement checks, such that they are some of the safest and law-abiding citizens in the state (please don't offer any anticdotes and one-offs). So I see nothing wrong with this law, I obviously see a problem with this particular politician, throw the book at him for DUI and gun possession while under the influence, no problem...but the two issues are seperate. If people will use this as a rallying cry for gun control, well, I think they are missing the mark. His offense had nothing to do with his law.

I have a carry permit issued by the state of MS (and applicalbe for 37 other states). The neighboring state of MS has a further clarification in "bar" vs "resteraunt" - One gets it's primary income from alchohol sales, the other gets it's primary income from food sales. That seems to work well. They prohibit carrying in an outright bar. But that does not impact me - I have no use in outright bars, but I do enjoy resteraunts, and will happily keep my weapon concealed behind my right hip in a resteraunt and maybe even enjoy a single beer with my meal (in MS, not in TN).

One other note on these restricted places, by law or by the estabilishment's choice - two options are to keep your gun in a car (a source for probably most of the illegal criminal handguns) or not to go to the estabilishment (lost business). Neither are desirable options. I have a gun safe in the car, but if I see a "weapon's not allowed" sign at a resteraunt they will not have my business.

[hiknapster]

This needs to be cleared up. TN state law was changed last year and now allows folks with carry permits to be armed in establishments that serve alcohol and that includes bars and restaurants. They cannot drink alcohol while in those places.

There is also some new information regarding Curry Todd. He has stepped down from the House firearms task force and resigned as chairman. Apparently, the day that he was arrested was the finalization of his divorce, not that this is an acceptable excuse. She claimed "inappropriate marital conduct" by her husband.

It is still not clear whether he was in a bar or restaurant.

To his credit, Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, a Blountville Republican and a strong gun rights supporter, told reporters he wants to make sure that "no favoritism is paid" in Todd's case.

"I have zero tolerance for drunk driving, and I think he needs to be punished to the fullest extent of the law," Ramsey said. "And the fact that he had a firearm in the car is bad, that's breaking the law, too."

Todd resigns as chairman of House firearms panel » Knoxville News Sentinel

[Dd714]

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

I think it's gotten so little attention because the OP decided to drop in from Wisconsin to rub this in our faces and we think it's rude and unnecessary.

Wisconsin is only 1 of the 2 states left in the US that prohibits the right of it's citizens to carry a tool to defend themeselves under any circumstances. They have absolutely no carry provision for any reason, making them, incredibly, even more left than California on gun rights. So it sucks to be him. I would be pissed as well.

He has hopes - Wisonson will go to "shall issue" on November 11th.

[An Einnseanair]

I still disagree that he was "carrying". There is a distinction between "possess", or having a loaded gun easily accessible, and "carry", or having a loaded gun physically on your person. Yes, it's a semantics issue, but I believe it's an important one when it comes to intent. People concealed carrying (CC) usually don't remove/replace weapons every time they get in/out of a vehicle unless you're starting or ending a long trip. So again, without actually being there a (and therefore not being 100% sure), I'd still bet that gun between the seat and console is always right there. He didn't have it with him while drinking. He didn't make a conscious decision to wear his gun while drinking (quite the opposite, he probably DID make a conscious decision to NOT wear his primary CCW while drinking), and after finishing drinking he just didn't think about locking his car gun up... before getting behind the wheel while sloshed and driving a 2-ton weapon down public streets.

I still believe the gun was incidental to the case, and this is not a "right to carry" issue. Not saying he shouldn't punished for all laws he broke (even if possession of the gun was incidental), just that this isn't a case of hypocrisy.

For what it's worth, I never did agree with carrying a gun in a bar. A gun has no reason to be in a bar, even if the carrier has been trained and vetted and isn't allowed to drink. People aren't allowed to drink and drive either, but look at the statistics on that one. I also believe there is a difference between a bar (no carrying) and a restaurant that serves alcohol (carrying allowed).

I mostly agree with Dd714, except for one major issue... even enjoying ONE beer while carrying. You might think you are clear headed, but it DOES affect you, and you're opening yourself up to losing a wrongful death suit by some meth-head's grief-stricken mother.

Finally, according to my lawyer, almost every divorce case filed in TN has "inappropriate marital conduct" attached as one of the reasons. She said that almost every married person is guilty of doing something that can be considered "inappropriate marital conduct". Anything from lying to looking at on-line porn to excessive flirting to spending joint money without permission to drug use to renting a secret apartment "love nest" where she and her lover spend all their spare time. It's a catch-all phrase that doesn't mean anything.

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by donsabi

My comment stems from a previous post about the lack of the local news media to report all the news and instead spending most of the air time gabbing about the Vols. If you listen to the news stations out of Knoxville you might get the impression that nothing ever happens in east Tennessee. At the same time I get loads of stories off the web about corruption in local TN governments. So why isn't there any investigative reporting? I know there is corruption in all government and Tennessee is no exception.

As to your statement Todd is one of a kind. What about the republican Desjarlais who was accused by his wife of dry firing a gun outside her bedroom door, threatening suicide, and holding a gun to his head and pulling the trigger with no bullets? I just read a brief about a Unicoi county official being indicted.
If I continue I would have to extend this post by pages. It's all on on the web. Why not on the TV news?

Tennessee is a nice place to live but it sure is not perfect. Without good investigative journalism we are blind to the workings and actions of our elected officials. I prefer to live life with the blinders off.

If your beef is with Knoxville stations, please specify that, rather than implying that no Tennessee TV stations cover government corruption.

Thank you.