NASHVILLE (AP) — State Rep. Curry Todd's arrest on drunken driving and gun charges led to repercussions Thursday with the Collierville lawmaker resigning his chairmanship of a House firearms task force and the Senate's top Republican saying there should be no leniency for him in court.

House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, said he accepted the resignation from the House panel because Todd "has other things to concentrate on."

McCormick said earlier in the day that he was postponing the first meeting of the task force later this month and that he will also decide this weekend whether to do away with the firearms panel altogether. He insisted that Todd's arrest wasn't the only factor in the delay.

McCormick said when he appointed the panel of seven Republican gun advocates in July, he expected the economy would have rebounded and 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, a Collierville Republican, was arrested in Nashville on Tuesday night after failing a roadside sobriety test and refusing to take a breath 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 charged with possession of a gun while under the influence and drunken driving. He posted bail of $3,000 and was released from jail Wednesday morning.

Todd's arrest came the same day as his divorce was finalized in Memphis. According to court records, Katherine Todd sued for divorce on Jan. 20 claiming "inappropriate marital conduct" by her husband, which he denied.

As part of the settlement, Todd must pay his ex-wife alimony of $325 every two weeks until he no longer holds elected office.

Todd 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 illegal to drink while carrying a gun at bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. Violations by handgun carry permit holders cause those licenses to be suspended for three years.

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 on the advice of his attorney.

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 of the House State and Local Government Committee.

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