NASHVILLE, July 28 (UPI) -- A majority of Tennesseans say they oppose a new law letting holders of handgun carry permits take their weapons into places selling alcohol, a poll indicates.
A poll taken by Mason-Dixon indicated 82 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of Independents were opposed to the gun law, but 59 percent of Republicans were against it, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported Wednesday.
The findings, showing seven of 10 voters say they oppose the law, match the results of earlier polls taken by Middle Tennessee State University and on behalf of the state tourism industry.
Despite widespread opposition to the law, state lawmakers twice in the past two years passed measures permitting guns in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, over the veto of Gov. Phil Bredesen, the newspaper said.
"You would think they (legislators) would vote the way their constituents want," said Will Cheek, a Nashville lawyer who led a challenge to the first of the two gun laws. "I think the legislators are out of touch with the people."
Lynnville autoworker David Deckard, 59, says the law simply does not fit modern Tennessee.
"We're not living back in the 1800s," he said. "It's not like we're a bunch of cowboys ... . They need to leave their guns in their cars."
There was no mention of polling margin of error for the survey.
