The Tennessee State Senate advanced a new version of a bill aimed at addressing drunk driving laws, but the version advanced by lawmakers on Thursday was amended to omit any plans to ban the sale of cold beer.
After “The Tennessee Prevention of Drunk Driving Act” fell flat with lawmakers due to language that banned stores from selling cold beer to the public in a bid to lower the number of drunk drivers throughout the state, its sponsor confirmed plans to change the contents of the legislation through an amendment.
“That was just one of many ideas that was being considered but it will not be included,” State Representative Ron Gant (R-Piperton) told The Tennessean of HB 2845 in February. At the time, Gant promised the new version of his bill would “not include any language that prevents the sale of cold beer” in stores.
An amended version of SB 2636, the Senate version of Gant’s bill, which advanced on Thursday, would instead mandate the Tennessee Impaired Driving Council (TIDC) create reports about impaired driving and make recommendations to decrease deaths, according to WSMV.
The representative stated to the outlet that his goal “has always been to raise awareness and offer preventative measures to curb drunk driving in our state.”
Gant stated that the new version of his legislation will require the TIDC to create “a comprehensive report about impaired driving in our state along with recommendations to combat the increase in drunk driving fatalities” and require the Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) to create reports about alcohol’s effects on Tennesseans.
“The commission would also work with law enforcement to streamline responses to fatal crashes involving alcohol and trace where the offender obtained their alcohol from. A task force is being considered as well that would include members from various departments on how to combat drunk,” stated Gant, according to WSMV.
Gant’s decision to abandon the ban on cold beer comes after the representative previously suggested the point of his legislation was to advance the conversation around drunk driving.
“The purpose of this and the goal of this conversation and this legislation, I hope, sparks a conversation across this state,” he said, according to WKRN.
Gant was previously seriously injured in a car accident after he was struck by a drunk driver. The driver was killed in the crash, while the lawmaker required multiple surgeries and now walks with a cane.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ron Gant” by Ron Gant. Background Photo “Tennessee General Assembly” by Antony-22. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Representative Gant was severely injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver – a person who ignored the law(s) that is/are already in place and designed to deter and punish such negligent acts.
So he sought vengeance on all his constituents as well as his fellow Tennessee residents with a very selfish maneuver to deprive many folks of something they choose to enjoy. Not good at all.
The fact that this bill got as much consideration as it did is a big red flag that Tennessee Republicans don’t have a good grasp on the concept of freedom. Sad but true.
We should ban just about everything. We need to lock down again too, for our own safety. Amazon can deliver Opioid Perceptions and Covid boosters..