keep on rollin’

As per their standard modus operandi, the Commercial Appeal just cannot keep its pages bare of irrational hoplophobia. The first instance of further bigoty and bias from the staff of the Commercial Appeal does not even merit linking, considering it is nothing more than four paragraphs of mindless bleating about how firearms and alcohol do not mix.
No kidding. That is why it is illegal in Tennessee to carry a firearm while there is alcohol, any alcohol, in your system. If something is already illegal (carrying while intoxicated), how does making it more illegal (banning handgun carry permit holders from carrying in bars) solve any problems? If people are already disobeying one law, how will another law suddenly turn them into model citizens?
At any rate, the rampant hoplophobia and anti-right stance of the staff of the Commercial Appeal is a given quantity, and there is no need for turning that dead horse into jello.
What is worth celebrating, however, is that the Tennessee House voted 71-22 to approve a bill allowing handgun carry permit holders to take their sidearms into state, city, and local parks – cities and counties would have the option to limit this right as they saw fit, though. Rather than unnecessarily drive traffic to the Commercial Appeal, I will simply state that Richard Locker somehow managed to get through yet another news article with only a modicum of bias, and instead point you towards this KnoxNews article, and, specifically, this quote:

The discussing included an exchange between Niceley and House Speaker Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh, D-Covington, who opposed the measure.

Naifeh said be could foresee people in parks “shooting at cans sitting on a rock” with children nearby, adding “What do you think that ricochet is going to do?”

First, Representative Naifeh, you are a complete idiot.
Second, handgun carry permit != permit to discharge a handgun whenever and wherever you feel like.
Third, discharging a firearm outside of a designated firearm range and when not in self-defense is typically an illegal activity.
Fourth, when you discharge a firearm, you are legally liable, responsible, and accountable for that bullet until it comes to a complete and absolute stop (at least relative to the planet).
Fifth, Representative Naifeh, you are a complete idiot.

He also asked whether parks should set up target ranges.

“I think that would be a good idea,” replied Niceley. “They probably could make some money out of it.”

Rep. Johnny Shaw, D-Boliver, then proposed an amendment requiring that a target range be set up in each state park. The amendment was killed on a 64-30 vote at Niceley’s urging.

I admit, I would have voted against that amendment as well. However, I would have simultaneously proposed an amendment allowing for the possibility of constructing ranges at certain parks in the future. After all, Representative Niceley is right – all of these people buying all of these firearms recently are going to need somewhere to practice with / enjoy their firearms, and if the state can get a piece of that action… well, hell, more power to them. It is not as though ranges are particularly complicated things to construct, and being the state, they can probably deal with the environmental/NIMBY/legal concerns easier than a private enterprise.