Attorneys for two Athens, Tn., men charged with selling guns without a license argued vigorously Monday that their trial should be delayed due to heavy publicity about the mass school shooting in Connecticut.
Defense attorneys said, "Given the highly emotional nature of the tragedy, it is respectfully suggested that a fair and impartial jury could not be impaneled so soon."
It was noted that prosecutors plan to bring as many as 200 weapons before the jury.
Federal Judge Curtis Collier denied the motion, and jury selection continued into the afternoon.
Brothers Carl Monroe, 67, and Richard Monroe, 48, are standing trial.