Tennessee: Multiple Gun Bills on the Move in the Legislature

This week, numerous gun bills could be considered in the Tennessee Legislature:

House Bill 508 and Senate Bill 445 would create a private cause of action for a party that is adversely affected by a local ordinance, resolution, policy, rule, or other enactment on firearms preempted by state law.  This bill would prohibit local government entities from prohibiting or restricting firearms on local property unless certain conditions are met.  Law-abiding citizens should not be placed in jeopardy of unintentionally violating local restrictions simply because they have crossed from one municipality to another.  Gun owners continue to be unduly burdened by local ordinances which violate the current state firearm preemption law.  HB 508, sponsored by Representative William Lamberth (R-44), has been sent to the House Finance Subcommittee.  SB 445, sponsored by Senator John Stevens (R-24), is pending consideration by the Senate Finance Committee.

Please click the “Take Action" button to contact your legislators in support of this important legislation.

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Senate Bill 1339, sponsored by state Representative James Van Huss (R-6), would allow a person to possess or carry a firearm, loaded or unloaded, in a motorized boat.  SB 1339 was passed by the Tennessee Senate today.

Senate Bill 386, sponsored by Senator Green (R-22), would improve Tennessee’s restoration of rights process by permitting the use of certain defenses for a person with a prior felony conviction, whose rights of citizenship have been restored, to reestablish his or her Second Amendment rights.  SB 386 has been referred to the Senate Calendar and Rules Committee and is pending action.

Senate Bill 983 would allow a person, who is granted an order of protection and who is not otherwise a prohibited person according to state or federal law, to carry a firearm for 60 days after the initial order of protection is issued.  This would allow a person under an order of protection to exercise his or her right to self-defense while allowing time to complete the Tennessee handgun carry permit process.  SB 983, sponsored by Senator Dolores Gresham (R-26), is also in the Senate Calendar and Rules Committee and is pending action.