Two of the most powerful policy makers in the State of Tennessee are the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate’s Lt. Governor. Some may believe that the Governor is the state’s most powerful policy maker but under the state constitution, the office of governor is one of the weakest in the nation. …
Observations by a Second Amendment Advocate on the House Civil Justice Committee hearing.
By C. Richard Archie, TFA Director I was sitting in the House Civil Justice Committee hearing room on March 8, 2023, listening to the parade of Administrative Department heads, representatives and liaisons. I was struck by how government has taken possession of the “truth” by way of video. Like the January 6th Committee cherry picking…
Bill Lee’s administration oppressively working to preserve existing infringements on 2nd Amendment rights and create new ones.
Following the United States Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen in which it struck down a New York handgun permit law as violating the Second Amendment, some may have thought that finally Tennessee would eradicate 2nd Amendment and civil rights infringements on the rights of the people to…
Sen. John Stevens shares key mandate from US Supreme Court Bruen decision with Senate Judiciary
In June 2022, the United States Supreme Court released it’ s opinion in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen in which it struck down a New York handgun permit law as violating the Second Amendment. In that opinion, written by Justice Thomas, the Court held that a state cannot constitutionally prohibit a citizen from…
Tennessee administration officials reject plain holding of US Supreme Court in Bruen
On February 28, 2023, Rep. John Ragan presented House Bill 1385 to the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. The objective of the bill was set forth in a single 4 line paragraph – it was to establish a statutory definition of the ambiguous phrase found in Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-1307(a)(1) (and other places) – “with…
State of Texas and GOA sue BATF over “pistol brace” rule – where is the State of Tennessee – UPDATED
On February 9, 2023, the State of Texas, Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation and Brady Brown sued the BATF seeking to have the ATF’s “pistol brace” rule declared unconstitutional. (See complaint below). This is one of several such lawsuits across the nation. However, this one is noteworthy because the State of Texas, represented…
Does the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision apply to Tennessee?
Some might raise the question of whether the United States Supreme Court’s opinion in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen has any impact on Tennessee? That is, does the holding in Bruen have any impact on Tennessee’s laws, regulations, executive orders, local government actions and even the sworn oaths of elected and appointed…
Plaintiffs ask court to issue preliminary injunction to prohibit the state from enforcement of the parks statute.
On February 16, 2023, a lawsuit was filed by Stephen L. Hughes, Duncan O’Mara, Elaine Kehel, Gun Owners of America, Inc., and Gun Owners Foundation against Bill Lee, in his official capacity as the governor of the state of Tennessee. See, Stephen L. Hughes, et al., v. Bill Lee, Chancery Court for the 28th Judicial…
State of Tennessee sued in action seeking to declare the “Parks Statute” to be unconstitutional
On February 16, 2023, a lawsuit was filed by Stephen L. Hughes, Duncan O’Mara, Elaine Kehel, Gun Owners of America, Inc., and Gun Owners Foundation against Bill Lee, in his official capacity as the governor of the state of Tennessee. See, Stephen L. Hughes, et al., v. Bill Lee, Chancery Court for the 28th Judicial…