Posted on 06/21/2009 1:30:06 PM PDT by marktwain
MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Big changes are coming to Beale Street, as the entertainment district rebels against the state of Tennessee's new 'guns in bars' bill.
The Beale Street Entertainment District fought legislation allowing guns in bars.
And now that the battle has been lost, they are making their own law - and planning to use metal detectors to make sure patrons aren't breaking it.
Officials said Wednesday that starting July 17th, no guns will be allowed on Beale Street. All clubs and businesses will post signs notifying patrons of the ban.
Police officers and private security guards will use handheld metal detectors to search patrons before allowing them inside the famous street's barricades.
Merchants will have to cover the cost, but they say it's worth it to maintain Beale Street's reputation as one of the country's safest entertainment districts.
John Elkington of Performa Entertainment says he wants to offer tourists and other patrons the opportunity to visit Beale without the fear of encountering armed citizens.
He says citizens with handguns should consider the barricaded street as one single, large establishment that does not allow guns.
"We understand a lot of people have different views than we have," said Elkington. "We happen to be in an urban area. We're not in Obion County, Tennessee. We're in a little different situation, so we're going to take whatever steps necessary to make sure that you're safe."
But not everyone agrees with the ban. One Action News 5 viewer writes:
"I hope Beale Street can survive without my business and a lot of my friends' business. As a law-abiding licensed to carry, believer of the Second Amendment, I shall exercise my right (as alot of others I know will) to not visit the area any more. You have to be a fool to walk Memphis streets day or night without personal protection."
A bar owner can’t make up his own laws. Black community organizers can, but not bar owners. And if these dopes want the best, most law abiding members of the public to frequent their clubs, those would be holders of concealed carry licenses.
Do they allow smoking?
Precisely. And although I think a business has such a right, it doesn't prevent patrons from showing their dislike of the rules.
A bit of civil disobedience might include ordering a $200 meal and then getting up just before the meal is served and asking the manager if its true that they don't allow 2A rights. Then leave with the bill unpaid. The food has been prepared, but you have not taken possession, so its no walking out on the bill.
Four or five of those a night might get the message across.
Beale Street is not a private mall. It has private shops along public sidewalks and public roads. They will lose. Whoever gets arrested first will have a great lawsuit. It will be too bad for the shopowners and the city but not everyone can learn a lesson the easy way.
Step right in, folks, the new Criminal Empowerment Zone!
People who step off Beale to one of the side streets — for example, to park their car — are very vulnerable to crime.
And we’re talking about a city that’s already consistently in the top three for violent crimes nationwide.
The criminals looking to ambush a victim can now be even more assured than before this rebellion against the new law that whoever they encounter won’t be armed.
The criminals won’t be going through the metal detectors as they lurk near Beale in the parking lots looking for victims.
Sounds like an old Chris Rock joke about never going to parties with metal detectors. Sure, it feels safe inside...
I read a book many years ago about “Boss Crump” and old fashioned political boss in Memphis who had one major difference from most. He was a benevolent boss. Under him Memphis was probably the best run city in the country.
I have never been to Memphis but from what I have read, it is now one of the worst.
It was along this very paved open sewer that my wife and I were nearly done in by a would be mugger in 1999. Law be damned, we were packing, much to the chagrin of the thug.
I used to live in Memphis (Germantown). I had a carry permit, but you can’t go into a place that serves alcohol in Tennessee, (at least not 3 years ago). So if you took the gun, you had to leave it in the car, then take your chances on Beale Street. (That’s not a good idea in Memphis, cars are broken into downtown all the time). So the only solution is stay home and not go to Beale Street. One Sunday morning we went down there and on the corner where there was a brand new restaurant, there was yellow tape and a huge blood stain from the night before. We found other things to do.
Around Beale Street it is already open season on the whitey tourists. The most vulnerable place in the state where people need personal protection the most is around Beale Street. I guess the locals are afraid they will lose some income if the tourists start defending themselves from the plethora of criminals that infest downtown Memphis. If downtown Memphis is so damn safe, why do the businesses have doors that lock and only allow customers in when they are recognized at the front as a customer? Why are bars on all the windows of the businesses downtown Memphis? King Willie....
Memphis has a horrible aggressive panhandler problem since asking for change in the day is legal.
Don’t worry, you have not missed anything by not visiting Memphis....it’s just another crappy Miss River chocolate town!
Well, I’m happy to see that the recession has not hit Memphis...
These merchants must be doing sooooo well right now, that they can afford to just “shoo” away law-abiding customers.
Methinks a state-wide boycott is in effect. Do what the folks in Ohio did — go to to an alternate venue (restaurant, etc.) with a large group, make a copy of the final receipt, and mail that receipt to the anti-gun business (with the message: “This is how much money you lost for being a dumb-*ss”).
Guns have no place in bars; but then, neither do people. I’m not against alcohol, just the losers one commonly finds in bars.
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