Tenn. Gun Bill Sponsor Arrested for Possessing Handgun While Drunk
- Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:01pm by
Buck Sexton
- Print »
- Email »
Rep. Curry Todd (Photo: AP)
The Blaze told you a few weeks back about an Ohio bill that allowed legal gun owners to bring firearms into establishments that serve alcohol, provided no drinking takes place.
Today, the Associated Press is reporting that an advocate for a similar law in Tennessee was allegedly caught drunk driving with a loaded gun in the car.
The media is now using these allegations to call into question the wisdom of the Tennessee firearms law that allows law-abiding gun owners to carry in bars in restaurants– all as a result of one man’s actions.
Rep. Curry Todd, a Collierville Republican who sponsored the law that made it legal to carry a gun into bars in Tennessee is facing charges of possession of a handgun while under the influence and drunken driving. He was pulled over in Nashville late Tuesday, according to court documents.
Police said he failed a roadside sobriety test and refused to take a Breathalyzer test. A loaded .38-caliber gun was found in a holster stuffed between the driver’s seat and center console.
A police affidavit said Todd was unsteady on his feet, “almost falling down at times.“ It concluded that Todd was ”obviously very impaired and not in any condition to be carrying a loaded handgun.”
The legislator posted bail of $3,000 and was released from jail Wednesday morning.
Todd didn’t immediately return a message left on his cellphone by the AP, and no lawyer was listed in his arrest records. A spokesman for the House Republican Caucus said leaders were monitoring the situation but had no immediate comment on the arrest.
Todd told officers that he had consumed two drinks when he was pulled over, according to the affidavit.
As a former Memphis police officer, Todd doesn’t have to have a state permit to carry a gun in public. But state law makes it a misdemeanor for anyone to consume alcohol while carrying a firearm in public.
Todd’s arrest was first reported by WSMV-TV. Court documents don’t indicate whether Todd had been drinking at a bar.
Todd sponsored a 2009 bill to let people with handgun carry permits take their weapons into businesses that serve alcohol, provided they don’t drink. Although police and prosecutors spoke out against it, the measure passed and easily survived a veto from then-Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat.
A judge later declared the law unconstitutionally vague but the Legislature addressed those issues in a new version that became a law last year.
During debate over the bill in 2009, Todd assured lawmakers that gun permit holders would be careful about not violating the ban on drinking in bars or restaurants while carrying a gun.
“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.
If Todd is found guilty and the law he sponsored comes under attack, he might not be the only Tennessean to have his second amendment rights curtailed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 587 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 372 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 372 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (46)
single stack
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 6:13pmHe wasn’t carrying a gun. It was “found in a holster stuffed between the driver’s seat and center console”. Having a gun in a car and carrying a gun are two different things. If he didn‘t take it into the bar he didn’t violate any law that allows a person to carry a gun into a place that serves alcohol as long as he doesn’t drink.
Report Post »pahalik
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 6:29pmAmen, but try to explain that to dummies. Your car is an extension of your home. Drunk or not makes no difference. It is NOT the same as “carrying” a loaded firearm.
Report Post »Maxim Crux
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 6:49pmShame on the BLAZE for opening the piece and associating the Ohio Law with this guy in Tennessee. The two are not related in any way. That is right, he was not carrying the gun.
Report Post »JohnofOregon
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:25amjust a second, he was NOT CARRYING in the bar. just another example of the media making a story up.
Report Post »obamas_keeper
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:57pmHe was you are not allowed to have a gun if you have been drinking. If you have ever took an concealed carrying class then you would know that.
Report Post »libertytreecaretaker
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 6:09pmThe law was for the sheeple, not the ruling class!
Report Post »What an idiot.
geonj
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 6:03pmdoesn’t sound like he was “carrying” the handgun.i am sure police hate this law.
Report Post »CITIZENCHET
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 6:01pmYou can’t fix Stupid!
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:53pmIf only they would ban toupee’s in bars next!
Was that wear he was concealing his, um, piece?
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:46pmThere is always some nut case that screws things up. This man should be held accountable and punished, not the rest of the people that follow the law.
Report Post »Patriot Z
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:40pmstupid i agree, but that dose NOT change the second amendment. we have the Right to bear arms. just cause 1 person acts like an idiot is no reason. we do not ban driving cause of 1 dui. this guys is a bonehead no doubt.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 6:00pmfor now we have a right to bear arms, but with 4 out of 5 supreme court judges voting the last time against our second amendments rights, it want be long until we lose it all together, old lady obama just said in a speech that for 13 months obama has tried to get the courts to review the second amendment,she also said that he had already stacked the courts with his type of judges,and with the retirement or death of just one,he would be able to stack the courts in the liberals advantage, sotimore ,kegan were just the start, now he has 4 out of 5 progressive anti constitutional judges who decide on ideology not the constitution we better hope and pray that no one die,or obama is gone when one retires or dies, or we will not only lose our gun rights, but all of our others constitutional rights, if you want to know more about what and how old lady obama said, go to the daily caller
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:40pmI only had three martwoni’s.
Report Post »Welcome Black Carter
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 10:21pmI’m not as think as you drunk I am…
Report Post »chips1
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:38pmWhat does a picture of Glen Campbell have to do with this story?
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:33pmoh come on, that man don’t look drunk. He looks stoned. Dang, pay the consequences of your stupidity dude. The left will try to use this, but it wont work….
Report Post »skippy6
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:26pmDon’t bring your guns to town drunk……Bill…..
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:49pmJohnny Cash?
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:24pmHe was in law enforcement at one time and also in the Dept of Corrections… he should have known better. Funny how some hurt the causes they champion all by themselves.
Report Post »Ruprecht
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:23pmDid he carry the handgun into the bar and therefore violate that law or was it just in his car, in which case he violated the law regarding having a loaded weapon while intoxicated? In the story, it is not clear whether he had the gun in the bar with him; which his being a sponsor of a law allowing guns in bars is the point of the story.
Bad enough being smashed with a loaded handgun. Particularly bad if he had it on him in the bar while drinking; obviously too much. Story just isn’t quite clear.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:23pmDumb-butt, don’t drink and drive!
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:21pmWhat a fool.
Report Post »Put him and Barney Frank in a cell together.
chips1
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:34pmThis is my rifle, this is my gun, this is for fighting, this is for fun!!! Barney is in love.
Report Post »teapartyconservatism
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:21pmSpeaking of untrustworthy politicians…
Report Post »http://teapartyconservatism.blogspot.com
commonsenseguy
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:20pmidiot!!!! thanks for giving the liberal anti gun nuts more ammo, and thanks for giving conceal carry people another label to fend off, idiot.
Report Post »knighttemplar999
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:19pmNice ptosis guy.
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:18pmSo a policeman off duty who goes to a bar for a drink is likewise prohibited from carrying his weapon?
Report Post »Prezzuhdint_Mohammad_Ovomit
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:18pmD’oh!
Report Post »FaithfulFriend
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:14pm“As a former Memphis police officer, Todd doesn’t have to have a state permit to carry a gun in public.”…. Why not, he’s no longer a police officer?
“But state law makes it a misdemeanor for anyone to consume alcohol while carrying a firearm in public.”… So if the gun was in his car when he consumed, what law did he break? Do people consume with guns in their homes? This doesn’t break any law either.
Seems to me this is really a story of an ex-police officer who is now a state legislator whose driving drunk. It’s about a car and a drunk at the wheel. The only reason the gun is put into the story is so some can play gotcha.
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:20pmI also wonder whether the inside of one’s car is actually considered “public”.
Report Post »steve4u55
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:11pmYeah That looks like two drinks.
Report Post »steve4u55
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:10pmA retired cop, and now he’s a politician. I’m sure he thought he was above the law.
Report Post »Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:10pmI’m not close enough… Can anybody kick that jerk in the backside for me?
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:29pmmaybe we can get someone from nashville and post on the blaze to kick him for the two of us and a lot of the conceal carry people, anyone from nashville want to help out.
Report Post »Joe Camel
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:07pmDolt…
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 5:22pmway to kind of a word to describe this idiot. i am sure the blaze would allow me to post what i really wanted to.
Report Post »