For over two decades the Tennessee Firearms Association has worked tirelessly in the state Legislature to repeal laws that violated Tennesseans’ constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms. It’s not every day that we receive a Second Amendment victory, but thanks to the work of the Tennessee Firearms Association and Gun Owners of America,…
Sen. Brent Taylor opposes State Attorney General appealing ruling declaring two gun control statutes unconstitutional
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)…
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…
If the Speakers want it, they get it in Tennessee.
When then Governor Ned Ray McWherter wanted to rewrite the entire Tennessee criminal code in 1989, which changed the ability of non-criminals to carry rifles and shotguns from a right to a crime in one fell swoop, he did so with the assistance of Speaker Jimmy Naifeh who was his power broker. Speaker Naifeh wielded…
Why do Tennessee government schools refuse to teach civics?
Civics classes were all the rage once upon a time; we wanted our general population to be appraised and informed as to the function of a republic, if one had to put life and limb in jeopardy to protect and defend it, they should understand they why and how. We seem to have, as a…
G.O.A.L.S. Event 2025-what it teaches us!
If you really are or want to be somebody in the Second Amendment advocacy world, you were there. The Gun Owners of America Leadership and Advocacy Summit just concluded this past weekend. Held in Knoxville, Tennessee for the second year in a row, it brought together those interested in advocating for a return to the…
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…