There are 3 permitless carry bills running in the Legislature. Two provide that any person who can legally possess a firearm can carry it. The third, commonly known as the “Governor’s bill” (SB765/HB786), has restrictions that limit the bill to handguns only, to generally those who are at least 21 years old and to those who are in a place where they have a right to be. All three are moving in the House but only the Governor’s bill has seen progress so far in the Senate.
The Governor’s bill, although sponsored by Senator Jack Johnson, was presented in the Senate Judiciary committee by Judiciary Chairman Mike Bell on March 2. Although some references were made in the discussion to it being “identified” as a constitutional carry bill, comments by two committee members were clear that it was only an incremental step that falls short of real constitutional carry. Committee Chairman Senator Mike Bell made comments that suggest the existence of a roadblock without identifying who or what it is. His statements included comments as follows:
- “Is it [this bill] everything I may have wanted in a bill that creates permitless carry, no. But it gets the ball further down the field.”
- “I’m glad we are here and again moving the ball further down the court, we may come back to see how this works in a couple of years and come back and make some changes.”
- “its been a journey and this bill gets us closer”
- “This bill is not everything that everyone wanted, but it gets the ball further down the field”
Senator Kerry Roberts also made comments during the Senate hearing indicating that he did not believe the Governor’s bill was real constitutional carry. Instead, he described it as an incremental step in the direction of real constitutional carry.
On March 10, the House version of the Governor’s bill was presented by Rep. William Lamberth to the House Criminal Justice Committee. In response to questions from Rep Hardaway regarding whether the bill covered all firearms or only some firearms. Rep. Lamberth responded that the bill only covered handguns. He continued on regarding the bill’s limited scope by explaining that “there is not a distinction [between handguns and longarms] in the Second Amendment, there is a distinction in this particular bill, and this is the biggest bite of freedom we can get in one chunk”.
On March 15, Speaker Cameron Sexton was interviewed by Brian Wilson, a host on 99.7 FM in Nashville. Although Speaker Sexton described the Governor’s Bill as having a handgun only limit. He stated it was “one good step in getting us towards true constitutional carry”. He also said that “this is the first step to get permitless carry in the state of Tennessee.” He also stated that “this is a great first step and we have been trying to get this step now for over a decade.”
Brian Wilson also asked Speaker Sexton if the problem in passing real constitutional carry was with the Lt. Governor, Randy McNally. Speaker Sexton said “I think there is more blockage than just the Lt. Governor” which suggests that other reports from internal sources which are indicating that Lt. Governor Randy McNally is the main roadblock on passage of this legislation may be accurate.
There are statements from various legislators on the official legislative histories of this bill that indicate that someone or something is blocking real constitutional carry. With a Republican super majority in control of the Legislature, that cannot be the Democrats. It could be RINOs but it would take a lot of them. But it also could be a few individuals that hold unusual and perhaps excessive power over the merits of legislation. Once such person holding that kind of power may be Lt. Governor Randy McNally.
We are completely unaware of a single news report, radio interview or even recorded public statement where Lt. Governor Randy McNally has indicated that he supports allowing any person who can legally possess a firearm to carry a firearm. This is, as Brian Wilson noted, an issue of significant public interest so the question is why are there no clear public statements by the Lt. Governor?
On the other hand, we have received reports which suggest that it is precisely the Lt. Governor who has essentially disenfranchised all Tennesseans who are presented by other Senators and even House members by issuing a “behind the curtain” mandate that the Governor’s bill will not be amended to a real constitutional carry bill. But he has one vote on the floor of the Senate and there are 32 other senators who took an oath to represent as a public steward most of the citizens of this state. Is it right that the power of the office held by one senator should be allowed to function as an effective and unilaterally exercised veto of legislation that simply tries to bring Tennessee law in more faithful compliance with the Second Amendment? Tennessee’s Legislature was never intended to be controlled by an oligarchy and it should not be now.
If even the possibility that the Lt. Governor is a roadblock to real constitutional carry concerns you, it is important that you take action now!
· Call your legislators and demand that they pass REAL constitutional carry. Make sure to tell them that the Governor’s bill IS NOT real constitutional carry and that two problems are it must be for “all firearms” and it must be for anyone who can legally possess a firearm.
· Call Lt. Governor Randy McNally – ask him why he is blocking real constitutional carry and who is helping him do it! His phone number in Nashville is (615) 741-6806, his fax number in Nashville is (615) 253-0285 and his phone number at his office in Oak Ridge is (865) 483-5544. His email is lt.gov.randy.mcnally@capitol.tn.gov
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.