A Tennessee gun show operator is appealing a judge’s decision to throw out a lawsuit that attempted to stop a new policy aimed at preventing gun shows hosted at city-owned fairgrounds.
The Tennessee Court of Appeals is set to revisit the decision of two local County Chancellors who deemed that the controversial policy stopping renting fairground space to gun shows until new restrictions are implemented did not violate rights. Via The Tennessean:
The lawsuit followed the Metro Board of Fair Commissioners’ controversial vote last December to halt renting space for future gun shows at the city-owned fairgrounds until new unless new rules are in place for the events. The safety measures include gun background checks for people who purchase firearms at the fairgrounds.
Plaintiffs, who also include the Tennessee Firearms Association, had requested that the court order the Metro fair board to block off weekends next to year to save slots for guns shows without any restrictions.
Last Friday, Chancellor Bill Young — who took on the case following the retirement of McCoy — denied the plaintiffs’ motion to amend the order, therefore reaffirming McCoy’s earlier decision.
The new order means that the gun show policy remains intact for now, though the outcome in the court of appeals will decide the policy’s ultimate fate.
McCoy had ruled that the fair board was within its authority to adopt the policy, saying there is no right to contract with Metro.
“We are undoubtedly saving lives by ending the absurd practice of taxpayer-funded gun sales without appropriate background checks,” fair board commissioner Kenny Byrd, the fair board’s biggest proponent of the new policy, said in response to Young’s order.
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