Tennessee: Multiple Gun Bill Hearings Scheduled in the Volunteer State

Next week, the Tennessee General Assembly has multiple gun bills being considered in multiple committees, and your legislators need to hear from you!  Those bills and committee hearings are listed below:

Senate Bill 705, sponsored by Senator John Stevens, would create a new concealed carry permit in Tennessee that would make it more accessible for Tennesseans to exercise their right to self-defense.  The new permit will allow for concealed carry only and will not apply to higher education campuses.  Further, the training required in the bill can be a hunter education course or firearm safety course, and can be taken online.  By creating a new concealed carry permit, Tennesseans are able to choose which permit option is best for them and their lifestyle in order to exercise their constitutional right to self-defense. Senate Bill 705 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, March 19. Please contact the committee and urge them to SUPPORT this bill.

House Bill 187, sponsored by Rep. Jay Reedy, would create protections for privately owned or operated shooting ranges by preventing government entities from enacting or enforcing rules, regulation, or ordinances that prohibit their ownership, construction or operation. House Bill 187 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee on Tuesday, March 19. Please contact the committee and urge them to SUPPORT this bill.

House Bill 1476, sponsored by Rep. G. A. Hardaway, would create fines and penalties for anybody who leaves a firearm or ammunition in a motor vehicle or boat without the firearm or ammunition being stored in a locked cabinet, safe, vault, case, or secured with a firearm locking device if the vehicle or boat is left unattended or with a person under 18 years of age; directs fines collected be deposited in the criminal injuries compensation fund and the domestic violence community education fund.  Not only does this legislation intrude on an individual’s ability to effectively defend themselves in certain situations, it would also place the financial burden of completely unrelated funds and programs onto those individuals that it has ensnared.  House Bill 1476 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Constitutional Protections and Sentencing Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 20. Please contact the committee and urge them to OPPOSE this bill.

Please click the take action button above to contact your lawmakers about the above listed legislation!