Reaction to the decision depended largely on one’s original position. State Rep. Curry Todd (R-Collierville) vowed to correct the “ambiguity” in the law, cited by Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman, when the legislature reconvenes in January.

State Senator Jim Kyle, on the other hand, rejoiced with the following statement: “I am happy that common sense as well as the rule of law has won the day. I have always believed in the second amendment and will continue to fight to protect it but I fought against allowing guns in bars in the senate because alcohol and firearms do not mix. In the Wild West days of Dodge City you had to check your guns at the town limit so you would think in the twenty-first century common sense would tell us we should not allow guns in bars. I hope my colleagues in both parties in the legislature will once again find their common sense and focus on moving Tennessee forward not jumping to the beat of a special interest with short sighted agenda."

Also happy was Adrienne Pakis-Gillon, Democratic nominee for the District 31 state Senate seat, who in a head to her emailed press release called the now invalidated measure the “Kelsey gun law” after her Republican opponent, former state Rep. Brian Kelsey, one of the bill's co-sponsors. She said in part:

“The voters of District 31 have a chance to stop these kinds of laws and return common sense to the legislature. This ruling gives the restaurant owners who have been troubled by this law a short reprieve. It also gives hope to parents, who knew this law never made sense, that something can be done about other legislation allowing guns in parks. I hope that voters will send me to Nashville to oppose this bill's re-enactment, and let me work for legislation that concerns issues like education and jobs that citizens really care about."

To read more, visit Memphis Gaydar.]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

Even as county commissioners ponder the stalemate facing them in selecting an interim Shelby County mayor, the former county chief executive offers a way out. Reflecting on the situation in his new 7th-floor penthouse office in City Hall last Friday, Memphis mayor A C Wharton had this to say:

“If you want something to talk about, one way to get out of that dilemma would be for them to say, ‘Well, we really don’t need anybody to do anything. A C’s been over here. Why don’t we sign an inter-local agreement. We can sign a contract with the city to run this thing for a year.’ And, bingo, consolidation!”

Sporting one of those patented Wharton half-grins that suggest a thought part-whimsical, part-serious, the mayor continued: “Go to the lawyers. You can sign an inter-local agreement to do anything. And I wouldn’t charge anything, because, see, under the charter I’m not supposed to have outside employment.”

Wharton professed not to be surprised by an outburst last week from commissioner Joe Ford, who squared off against fellow commissioner J.W. Gibson in a 24-ballot marathon that left them deadlocked,with five votes each.

Ford had reacted to commissioner Deidre Malone’s nomination at one point of county CAO Jim Huntzicker in an abortive move to break the stalemate. That prompted Ford to thunder against the “former administration” — i.e., Wharton’s, in which Huntzicker also served as CAO — as one in which saw “disastrous” fiscal mismanagement.

“It didn’t shock me,” Wharton said. He’s done that before. I recall when we closed Oakville Hospital, he really tore into me.”

Ford, by the way, picked up an endorsement over the weekend from the Shelby County Democratic Women, who in a press released praised “the leadership and the experience that Commissioner Ford will bring to office of Shelby County Mayor.”

UPDATE: Tigers win opener, 82-53, over Jackson State. Elliot Williams led Memphis with 19 points, followed by Will Coleman, who came off the bench to score 16 and grab 10 rebounds. For complete box score and recap, go here.]]> [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]