NASHVILLE (AP) - House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick said Thursday that he will postpone and possibly disband a special firearms task force following the arrest of its chairman, Rep. Curry Todd, on drunken driving and gun charges.

McCormick, a Chattanooga Republican, said in a phone interview that "with the chairman otherwise occupied" he will put off the first meeting scheduled for later this month, and will decided over the weekend whether to do away with the panel altogether.

McCormick added that when he appointed the panel of seven Republican gun advocates in July, he expected the economy would have rebounded to the point where lawmakers might want to concentrate on issues other than jobs.

"This is certainly of secondary importance right now," he said. "I think at this time we need to double back and focus in on economic issues."

Todd, R-Collierville and the chairman of the House State and Local Government Committee, was a chief architect of a controversial new state law that allows people with handgun carry permits to be armed in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.

Todd and other supporters of the bill stressed during legislative debates that it would remain a crime to drink alcohol while carrying a gun in public.

Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, a Blountville Republican and a strong gun rights supporter, told reporters he wants to make sure that "no favoritism is paid" in Todd's case.

"I have zero tolerance for drunk driving, and I think he needs to be punished to the fullest extent of the law," Ramsey said. "And the fact that he had a firearm in the car is bad, that's breaking the law, too."

Ramsey said it would be up to Todd's suburban Memphis constituents to decide whether he should remain a lawmaker, and said he defers to House Speaker Beth Harwell on whether he should keep his chairmanship.

Harwell, R-Nashville, was out of state touring colleges with her d aughter and planned to meet with Todd before making any decisions on his chairmanship.

Police say Todd was pulled over Tuesday night because his SUV was weaving and traveling 60 mph in a 40 mph zone. Court documents say Todd was unsteady on his feet, failed a roadside sobriety test and refused to take a breath alcohol test. A loaded .38-caliber gun was found in a holster stuffed between the driver's seat and center console.

Todd, a retired Memphis police officer who holds a state handgun carry permit, was arrested on charges of charges of possession of a gun while under the influence and drunken driving. He posted bail of $3,000 and was released from jail Wednesday morning.

It is not clear where Todd was coming from when he was arrested, though he told officers he had had consumed two drinks, according to the affidavits filed in the case. He later released a statement saying he was "deeply sorry for the events of last evening," but declined further comment o n the advice of his attorney.