On February 6, 2024, Rep. William Lamberth presented his House Bill 1640. Rep. Lamberth seeks to expand the circumstances under which access to firearms (but not other deadly weapons) is prohibited with respect to individuals who have been “adjudicated as a mental defective or judicially committed to a mental institution.” The restriction applies even to…
Author Archives: JohnHarris
Tennessee Legislature has filed or taken action on 143 bills so far in 2024 that are tracked by TFA
The Tennessee Legislature, as an entity, has proven the inability to take into consideration the United States Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, No. 20-843. In Bruen, the Supreme Court held that any existing or proposed laws that do not have a national historical tradition as of 1791…
TFA and GOA file Supreme Court amicus brief on “bumpstock” appeal.
On January 29, 2024, the Tennessee Firearms Association and the Tennessee Firearms Foundation joined Gun Owners of America and several other organizations in submitting an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court in the case of Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General, et al., v. Cargill, No. 22-976. The issue in this action is whether…
Tennessee Legislature taking action on at least 79 proposed laws in January 2024 – many violate the Supreme Court’s BRUEN decision
Since January 1, 2024, at least 79 bills have either been introduced in the Tennessee Legislature or are bills that were filed in 2023 which have had some type of activity. Some of these bills do appear to be appropriate in light of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen. However, many of these…
TFA Joins GOA in Amicus Brief in US Supreme Court on appeal by Donald J. Trump
On January 18, 2024, Tennessee Firearms Association and Tennessee Firearms Foundation (a 501c3) joined Gun Owners of America and numerous other organizations in filing an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court case of Donald Trump v. Norma Anderson, et al. No: 23-719. This is the appeal by Mr. Trump from the rulings in…
Tennessee Legislature seeing volume of bad 2nd Amendment Legislation.
As of January 12, 2024, approximately 30 bills have been filed on issues of interest to the Tennessee Firearms Association and its members. As detailed in the report below, most of them are bad ideas that demonstrate a complete disregard of the Supreme Court’s mandate in its decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol…
The 2024 Legislative Session is an opportunity for Legislators to enact laws required by the Second Amendment
Tennessee does NOT have REAL Constitutional Carry and Tennesseans need to once again demand it of the Legislature in 2024. There are many constitutional problems with respect to how Tennessee’s existing and even proposed laws fail to comply the the Second Amendment’s “shall not be infringed” mandate. Indeed, too many of Tennessee’s existing and proposed…
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joins official comment opposing ATF’s proposed rule defining ‘Engaged in the Business’
On December 7, 2023, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined attorney generals from the States of Kansas, Iowa, Montana, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming, and the Arizona State Legislature in opposing the…
Rep. Bryan Richey (R) proposes allowing hunting over bait on privately owned land.
Tennessee Republican House Member Bryan Richey, who represents part of Blount County, has filed a bill which would allow hunting over “bait” on privately owned land, but not on public lands. His legislation, House Bill 1618, provides: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-4-113(a), is amended by deleting subsection (a) and substituting: (a) Except as…
TFA, TFF, GOA and VCDL file joint comments to oppose ATF’s proposed “engaged in business” rule
On September 8, 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) published a “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” in the Federal Register, entitled “Definition of Engaged in the Business as a Dealer in Firearms,” 2022R-17, 88 FR 61993 (“NPRM”). ATF sought public comment on its proposal by December 7, 2023. TFA coordinated with Gun…