On August 26, 2025, Senator Brent Taylor (R) issued a letter to Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti in which Sen. Taylor supported the three-judge panel ruling against the State striking down the “intent to go armed” and “parks” statutes and encouraging that the Attorney General not appeal the ruling. Other state legislators, including Rep. Jody Barrett (video)…
Author Archives: John Harris
Are the “Going Armed” and “Parks” statutes void now?
On August 22, 2025, a panel of three Tennessee judges ruled that Tennessee’s “intent to go armed” statute violates the Tennessee Constitution and the Second Amendment. The court also declared unconstitutional Tennessee’s statute which makes it a criminal offense to merely carry certain weapons in parks and recreational areas even if for self-defense. See, Stephen…
Hughes v. Lee – do we now have constitutional carry?
On August 22, 2025, a panel of three Tennessee judges issued a significant ruling on the limit imposed by the Tennessee Constitution on the scope of authority of the State of Tennessee to infringe rights of individuals to keep and bear arms. In Stephen Hughes, et al., v. Bill Lee, et al., Gibson Chancery No:…
Tennessee’s “intent to go armed” and “parks” statutes declared unconstitutional
On August 22, 2025, a three-judge panel (the “court”) in Tennessee declared Tennessee’s intent to go armed statute unconstitutional. The court also declared Tennessee’s statute that prohibits carrying firearms in parks to be unconstitutional. Tennessee’s “intent to go armed” statute is contained in Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1307(a)(1) which provides “A person commits an offense…
Tennessee’s primaries are designed to fail the voters
Tennessee’s primaries are designed to fail the voters. As designed, the current Tennessee party primary process has the intentionally designed result of allowing the declared primary winner to be a candidate that sometime 70% or more of the voters actually rejected. That actually makes no sense except in the minds of politicians. For example, consider…
Congressman John Rose now has a challenger in the 2026 Republican Primary for Governor of Tennessee
Tennessee Congressman John Rose has been openly campaigning to be Tennessee’s next governor in the 2026 elections. As of August 6, 2025, he now has a primary challenger, Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, according to numerous news outlets. Curiously, there has been some speculation concerning Sen. Blackburn’s plans because many of her volunteers, employees or handlers…
Rep. Chris Todd comments on carrying a longarm for self-defense
[This is the unedited body of a social media post on August 6, 2025, by Tennessee Rep. Chris Todd] During the nearby search for the fugitive over the past few days, with camera sightings showing he definitely held a long gun with a large drum magazine, like many of you I took precautions. As you…
It is a crime to carry a “club” with the intent to go armed.
Did you know that its a crime to carry a “club” in Tennessee with the intent to go armed? It is. Unfortunately, many people commit this crime without evening knowing that the State of Tennessee and those who are controlling it think that they are criminals even if they only want to be able to…
ATF announces proposed rule for administrative relief of federal firearms disabilities
On July 18, 2025, the Department of Justice announced a proposed rule to grant relief to individuals who are precluded by federal law from possessing firearms. The announcement and the draft of the proposed rule are available here. Federal law has included a provision under 18 USC 925 for relief of disabilities for many years.…
TFA and TFF join amicus brief in NRA v. Glass
On June 20, 2025, Tennessee Firearms Association and Tennessee Firearms Foundation joined Gun Owners of America and several other organizations to submit an amicus brief in National Rifle Association, Incorporated, Petitioner v. Mark Glass, Commissioner, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 24-1185, United States Supreme Court in which we argue that the Supreme Court should grant…