March 10, 2020 was the 2nd Amendment Rally at the Tennessee Legislature which was a joint endeavor by the Gun Owners of America, National Association for Gun Rights and Tennessee Firearms Association. It was a great success! We were particularly pleased that House Speaker Cameron Sexton recognized the Rally and was its first speaker.
The Rally had as its focus encouraging grassroots activists and the representatives from these three organizations to meet with individual legislators to discuss the desired and necessary improvements to the permitless carry legislation that the Governor introduced as an “administration bill”, the opposition to Red Flag legislation, the elimination of gun free zones. Quite simply, the mission was to impress on individual legislators that the voters are serious in their desires that their rights, as identified and protected by the 2nd Amendment, be relieved of any and all infringements that currently exist in local, state and federal laws.
We are also glad to report that many of the Legislators agreed that these changes were important and should be taken into consideration as the bills are discussed.
There were several bills that were taken up this week which are continuing to move forward as reflected in the TFA’s bill status report (download below). There are three bills which deal with the issue of permitless carry of a firearm in Tennessee. The first filed and the strongest is HB1553/SB1556 by Senator Joey Hensley and Rep. Bruce Griffey. It would allow open or concealed permitless carry. It also allows a person relying on permitless carry to be entitled to the same statutory defenses as a person with an enhanced permit (e.g., allows permitless carry in public parks).
The second filed bill and one almost as strong is HB2661/SB2888 by Senator Paul Bailey and Rep. Chris Todd. It is almost identical in effect to the first bill except that it has a concealed only requirement.
The third and weakest bill is the Govenor’s bill that was amended into a caption bill that originally had nothing to do with handguns. See, HB2817/SB2671 by Senator Jackson Johnson and Rep. William Lamberth. This bill creates a qualified exception to a criminal charge of illegally carrying a firearm if, and only if, (i) the individual in a Tennessee resident, (ii) the individual meets all of the heightened criteria for being issued an enhanced handgun permit (all individuals who can legally purchase or possess a handgun are not eligible) and (iii) the individual is in a place where he/she has a right to be. This bill was heard in the House Judiciary’s Constitutional Protections Subcommitee on March 10 (video). TFA, GOA, and NAGR all have indicated conditional support for the bill particularly if it is amended. NAGR representatives delivered approximately 40,000 signed petitions asking the Legislature to amend the bill to address these concerns. NRAILA’s lobbyist testified in support of the bill.
We expect the committee system to be closing down and we expect the Legislature to conclude business for the year by perhaps mid-April. That means a lot of bills will be moving, be amended, and will be voted on in rapid fashion.
What can you do?
– review the bill status report and calendar report to identify bills of interest to you. Make sure you carefully review and understand any amendments because those amendments, as with the Governor’s bill, can completely and totally the effect of the bill.
– make appointments to go see your individual legislators in Nashville or while they are home in the district – let them know clearly your concerns and desires
– call and speak directly with your legislators if you do not have time to go see them personally
– send letters (not emails) to the chair and members of the committees and copy those letters to your individual legislators
Some have asked by testifying in the committees. While it is certainly your right under the 1st Amendment to speak out, it is not necessarily a right to speak in a government hearing. Yet, most committees will allow it (if they have time). However, it is important keep in mind that most of the real work is done prior to the committee meetings and minds are often made up or “pretty sure” before the committee members hear the bill. Unless you are specifically invited by the bill’s sponsor or a committee member to be a witness, TFA generally recommends against asking to testify in a committee.
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