The Tennessee Spotlight released its newsletter commentary this week and asked a question that may be of interest to Tennessee’s gun owners and 2nd Amendment supporters. The question presented in the Spotlight is “But what role has the NRA, the nation’s oldest 2nd Amendment advocacy group, played in assisting liberty-loving Tennesseans in reclaiming this right…
Author Archives: JohnHarris
Tennessee Legislature expands gun free zones in public buildings
The Legislature has adjourned for 2017 and its not certain at this point how much progress or damage that they did to your rights as recognized by the 2nd Amendment and guaranteed by the Constitution this year. What we do know is that they intentionally killed and refused requests to debate constitutional carry and permitless…
TN constitutions – 1796, 1835 and 1870 added to TFA resources
Tennessee has had a constitutional recognition of the right to own arms in its constitution since Tennessee first became a state in 1796. To make your research easier, TFA has now added all three versions of Tennessee’s constitution to its website. Tennessee Constitutions Page
New Attorney General Opinion on State Preemption and local ordinances
On April 11, 2017, the Attorney General issued opinion 17-26 which answered this question: Effect of Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1314 on Enforceability of Local Zoning Laws Question Where Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1314 preempts counties and municipalities from adopting any ordinances to regulate the use, purchase, transfer, taxation, manufacture, ownership, possession, carrying, sale, acquisition,…
Goodman Guns Shows and TFA file appeal regarding Nashville’s illegal “gun show” ban at the Fairgrounds
Bill Goodman Gun and Knife Shows and the Tenn. Firearms Association file appeal in lawsuit challenging Nashville ban of gun shows at the Fairgrounds The citizens of Tennessee need organizations that are willing to fight for our rights. Organizations that are willing to fight hard and not capitulate. The Bill Goodman Gun and Knife Shows…
Should members vote NO on proposed NRA bylaw amendments?
Just in the last week, we see the stories of how the NRA capitulated on the Knoxville “parks” litigation and then proclaimed the settlement as a reasonable victory. This article talks some about the rights and powers that NRA members, including me, are loosing to the ever growing “bureaucrats” who run the NRA. What do…
NRA’s lawsuit against the city of Knoxville over Chilhowee Park ban settled – not good for gun owners
The Tennessee Firearms Association is disappointed but not surprised by the decision of the Plaintiff in an NRA funded lawsuit to settle the case by agreeing that “Chilhowee Park” is not a park. In 2008, the Tennessee Legislature passed a law which made all state parks and federal parks (which were not otherwise restricted) accessible…
Eight States terminate or eliminate reciprocity with Tennessee
Tennessee changed its law effective January 1, 2017, so that a small number of individuals 18-20 years old can apply for civilian handgun permits. That small group is, for reasons not entirely clear as a matter of constitutional analysis, limited to those individuals who are in or retired from the military. As a result of…
2017-2018 Legislative Committee assignments — raises the question of “What Constitution?”
Here are the announced committee assignments for the 110th General Assembly…. What do you think? Senate Judiciary Brian Kelsey – Chair Doug Overbey – Vice Chair Janice Bowling – 2nd Vice Chair Mike Bell Lee Harris Sara Kyle Jon Lundberg Kerry Roberts John Stevens House Civil Andy Farmer – Chair Debra Moody – Vice Chair…
Tennessee’s Lifetime Handgun Permits… not for you yet
Tennessee’s “Lifetime Handgun Permits” In 2016, some Tennessee legislators worked hard to reduce the cost for standard and lifetime handgun permits. Some did this, TFA believes, because they realized that the state had been making a large profit on the handgun permit scheme and they were attempting to reduce those costs because of that. Others,…