Category Archives: News

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…

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 Legislators challenge Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association for lobbying against 2nd Amendment bills

Two Legislative committees have considered the Governor’s permitless carry bill (SB765/HB786) as well as Sen. Joey Hensley’s and Rep. Bruce Giffey’s “Constitutional Carry” bill (SB318/HB18) over the last two weeks. The House heard testimony on both bills in its Criminal Justice Subcommittee on February 24, 2021. The Senate Judiciary heard testimony on the Governor’s permitless…

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…