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…
Author Archives: John Harris
Is Speaker Cameron Sexton “luke warm” to REAL Constitutional Carry?
On Monday, March 15, 2021, on the Brian Wilson show on 99.7 FM in Nashville interviewed Speaker Cameron Sexton on several hot legislative topics and included in that interview a series of questions about the three pending permitless carry bills in Tennessee. We want to thank Brian Wilson for raising these important questions. Brian Wilson…
Rep. Jerry Sexton calls out Tennessee’s current handgun permit system as unconstitutional
For far longer than the last 11 years that the Republicans have held a super majority in the Tennessee Legislature efforts have been made by many in this state to get the Legislature, or at least a simple majority of it, to realize that the Second Amendment guarantees to every person who can legally own…
Legislative Update and Calendar for March 12, 2021 – Lots of bills on notice
The Legislature is rapidly moving forward with many of the bills that have been flagged for tracking by Tennessee Firearms Association. All of those bills that have had activity the week of March 8 are covered in the Bill Status Report. All of the bills that we are expecting to be heard in committee or…
Where is the “roadblock” to passing REAL constitutional carry?
There are three permitless carry bills pending in the Legislature. One of those three is House Bill 786 / Senate Bill 765 which is commonly referred to as the “Governor’s bill” and which appears to be the only one that many Tennesseans realize is pending. The other two bills House Bill 18 / Senate Bill…
Two permitless carry bills advance from House full committee
Two of the three permitless carry bills were scheduled for hearing on March 10, 2021, in the House Criminal Justice Committee. Both House Bill 786, which is commonly referred to as the “Governor’s bill” and House Bill 18 by Representative Bruce Griffey were taken up in this committee. After extension discussion and only a voice…
Permitless Carry to be heard next week – Legislative Update for March 5, 2021
The Legislature is rapidly addressing the bills that the Tennessee Firearms Association has flagged for tracking. There are three bills that clearly are at the top of the list because they all address permitless carry proposals. The bill getting the most attention is the Governor’s Bill – HB786/SB765. The attention is likely because it is…
TN Senate only takes an”incremental step” that falls short of real constitutional carry
On March 2, 2021, the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee considered SB765 by Senator Jack Johnson (House version is HB786 by Rep. William Lamberth) which bill is commonly referred to as the “Governor’s Bill”. This bill is primarily a massive $17 million dollar per year crime package but it does contain a section that addresses permitless…
Call to Action: TFA Statement to Legislature on Governor’s “permitless carry” proposal
There are several bills pending on constitutional carry and permitless carry in Tennessee this year. TFA advocates for the adoption of real Constitutional Carry. TFA defines real Constitutional Carry as an environment where “anyone who can legally possess a firearm can carry that firearm” and do so with minimal if any gun free zones. There…
Legislative Update and Calendar – February 26, 2021
The Tennessee Legislature has started working this week on many 2nd Amendment related bills including several that address constitutional carry or permitless carry. The weekly bill activity report is posted below. A few specific bills to watch: SB227 and HB103, as filed, would require firearms safety instruction in public schools. This can be a good…