On August 30, 2023, a three-judge panel of Tennessee judges ruled that the case of Stephen L. Hughes, et al. v. Bill Lee, et al., Gibson Chancery No: 24475 that the claims by the plaintiffs which assert that Tennessee’s existing statutes that make it a crime to carry a firearm in a public park, greenway,…
Author Archives: JohnHarris
What does Governor Bill Lee’s demand for a Red Flag Special Session, and that failure, tell us about who supports the Second Amendment?
Shortly after the Tennessee Firearms Association sent out its report on the Special Session, we started receiving a lot of inquiries from Tennesseans who wanted to know “who the problem Republicans are”, or “did my Representative and Senator protect our rights” or “are you going to send out a list of which Republicans need to…
Senator Frank Niceley speaking on the fiction of “gun free zones” and the need to eliminate them.
On August 29, 2023, Tennessee Senator Frank Niceley address the state of Tennessee and its Legislature from the Senate Floor. Specifically, he wanted to address the issue of “imaginary, fictional gun free zones”. We want to acknowledge Senator Niceley for stating the obvious but at the same time emphasizing the fact, perhaps indirectly, that existing…
Bill Lee’s Special Session ends with no meaningful results – which is a victory.
On August 29, 2023, the Tennessee Legislature concluded all work on the special session. Although Governor Lee had insisted as early as April 2023 that the special session would focus on his proposed Red Flag law, he massively expanded that scope in his August 8, 2023, proclamation to include 18 different broad categories, one of…
Special Session Shenanigans raise concerns about back room risks
The Governor’s Special Session which he demanded because he wanted to force a Red Flag law never should have occurred. But Governor Lee abused his discretion and called one anyway. Rather than focus on an “extraordinary occasion” as is constitutionally required, he issued a proclamation calling for the broad and vague topic of “public safety”…
TFA and GOA file Amicus Brief in Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging ATF’s “Frame and Receiver” rule.
On August 25, 2023, Tennessee Firearms Association joined again with Gun Owners of America in the effort to defeat the ATF’s unconstitutional expansion of the Congressional definition of a “frame or receiver”. The brief was filed in the case of Jennifer VanDerStok, et al. v. Merrick Garland, et. al. Fifth Circuit 23:10718. The issue in…
Proposed legislation to allow enhanced handgun permit holders to carry on pre-K through 12th grade schools dies because of Republican votes.
Many people believe that one of the best defenses to an armed attack on any location, including a school, is an immediate armed response. Certainly, the actions already taken this year to put “school resource officers” in public schools with taxpayer funding evidences at least some in government and many in the public see the…
Rep. Jeremy Faison awards the Tennessee Senate the 2023 Ostrich Egg Award
Bill Lee’s decision to call a Special Session in which he wanted the Legislature to pass a Red Flag law (see item 12 in his August 8, 2023, proclamation) has provided the framework for a Legislative disaster in Tennessee all centered around Lee’s decision to try to force the Legislature to pass his Red Flag…
Red Flag Special Session – Day 3 update
August 23, 2023 sheds new light on what is happening at the Tennessee Legislature in response to Governor Lee’s Red Flag Special Session proclamation. On Tuesday, August 22, the Senate Judiciary committee passed three bills: SB7085, SB7086, and SB7088. All other bills on the calendar in Senate Judiciary committee were “tabled.” See report below. At…
Special Session – Day 2 – it is just getting worse…
August 22, 2023, is the second day of Bill Lee’s Special Session and the overt attack on numerous rights, not just Second Amendment Rights. As of 8:15 a.m. on August 22, the Legislators have filed:– 114 House bills– 104 Senate bills– 43 House Joint resolutions– 101 Senate Joint resolutions– 15 House resolutions– 1 Senate resolution…