Two Pro-Gun Bills Signed By The Governor and Two Awaiting Consideration

Please Contact Your State Legislators Today!

The following is an update on NRA-backed bills that are currently working their way through the legislature as session is winding down. Please contact your State Senator and State Representative and respectfully urge them to support all of the NRA-backed bills listed below without any restricting amendments. For contact information or help identifying your State Legislators, please click here. For Tennessee Legislature Committee information please visit www.capitol.tn.gov/committees/.   For contact information or help identifying your State Legislators, please click here.

Several pieces of pro-gun legislation are currently pending action in various stages of the legislative process in Nashville.

On Thursday, April 30, the General Assembly Conference Committee was formed to discuss House Bill 962, as amended by the Senate.  The ten members of the Conference Committee will meet on Monday, May 4 at 2:00 in Room 31 of the Legislative Plaza at the State Capitol.  HB962 would enable a person who has a valid Right-to-Carry permit to carry a firearm into restaurants where alcohol may be served, as long as the permit holder is not consuming alcohol or is not otherwise prohibited by posting provisions.  Both the House and Senate will need to approve the conference committee report on HB962. 

It is important to contact your Legislators (State Representatives and State Senators) on Monday, May 4 and respectfully ask them to support HB962 as amended by the Senate.  Please be sure to also take the time to thank all House and Senate sponsors and co-sponsors for their continued support of this important Right-to-Carry Legislation.  They need to hear from you today.  The list of House and Senate sponsor’s and cosponsor’s is listed at the bottom of this email.

House Bill 716, sponsored by State Representative Frank Niceley (R-17), would allow any resident who has a valid handgun carry permit to possess a handgun while within the boundaries of any state park. HB 716 passed out of the House by a vote 71 to 22 on Monday, April 20.  It was amended to remove the fiscal note.   Senate Bill 976, now sponsored by State Senator Mae Beavers (R-17), is the companion bill to HB 716. SB 976 is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee and is expected to be heard on Wednesday, May 6.

Senate Bill 264, sponsored by State Senator Doug Jackson (D-25), would authorize the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) to issue sport fishing and hunting licenses at no cost to Tennessee residents who are 100 percent disabled and receive social security disability. SB 264 passed out of the Senate Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee unanimously on April 7. House Bill 569, sponsored by State Representative David Shepard (D-69), is the companion bill to SB 264. HB 569 has been deferred to the last calendar in the House Committee on Conservation and Environment.  SB 264 and HB 569 have a significant fiscal note attached and are not expected to be voted on until a later date.  

Senate Bill 1908, the “Second Amendment Protection Act,” sponsored by State Senator Doug Jackson (R- 25), would prohibit the sale of micro-stamped firearms or ammunition in Tennessee. This preventive measure is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee and is expected to be heard Wednesday, May 6. House Bill 1924 sponsored by State Representative Henry Fincher (D-42) is the companion bill to SB 1908. HB 1924 has been referred to the House Judiciary’s Sub-committee on Criminal Practice and Procedure and is expected to be heard in the coming weeks.

House Bill 82, sponsored by State Representative Johnny Shaw (D-80), would authorize current and retired judges who possess a handgun carry permit to carry a firearm under the same circumstances and conditions as law enforcement officers and correctional officers. HB 82 passed the House on April 2 by a vote of 85 to 10 and has been referred to the Senate. Senate Bill 19, sponsored by State Senator Dolores Gresham (R-26), is the companion bill to HB 82 and is expected to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, May 6. 

House Bill 390, sponsored by State Representative Henry Fincher (D-42), would allow handgun carry permit holders to possess or carry a loaded rifle, loaded shotgun, or loaded magazine or clip while in a motor vehicle. HB 390 passed the House on March 19 by a vote of 82 to10 and will now be considered by the Senate. Senate Bill 578, sponsored by Senator Doug Jackson, is the companion bill to HB 390.  SB 578 passed out of the Senate Judiciary on Wednesday, April 29 by a vote 6 to 2.  SB 578 will be heard on the Senate Floor as early as next Thursday. 

House Bill 959, sponsored by State Representative Eddie Bass (D-65), would ensure the privacy of handgun permit holders by making records of permit applications and renewals confidential. HB 959 was amended to allow for the sharing of statistical information. HB 959 passed the House Finance and Ways Committee on Tuesday, April 28 and is expected to be voted on the House Floor on Monday, May 4.  Please contact members of the House and request that no further amendments be attached.  Senate Bill 1126, sponsored by State Senator Mark Norris (R-32), is the companion bill to HB 959.  SB 1126 was amended to allow the release of permit information to the office of the comptroller to ensure the Department of Public Safety is complying with state law relative to the issuance of carry permits. SB 1126 is expected to be voted on by the Senate in the coming weeks.

House Bill 960, sponsored by State Representative Harry Tindell (D-13), would authorize a person with a handgun carry permit to possess a firearm while in local, state or federal parks. HB 960 was amended by the House Judiciary to allow local government bodies to maintain control of concealed carry within the local parks and passed the House by a vote of  77 to 14. Please contact your State Senator and express your opposition to this amendment that will create a confusing patchwork of carry laws across the state.  Senate Bill 1518, sponsored by State Senator Mae Beavers (R-17), is the companion bill to HB 960.  SB 1518 is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee and is expected to be heard on Wednesday, May 6.

Two pro-gun bills are headed to Governor Phil Bredesen’s (D) desk for his consideration.

• House Bill 70, sponsored by State Representative Henry Fincher (D-42), would remove the prohibition against using deadly force in protection of personal property.  It also expands your right to self defense to a business. HB 70 overwhelmingly passed the House on March 19 by a vote 89 of 1.  The Senate adopted and passed HB 70 on Thursday, April 30 by a unanimous vote of 29 to 0.  Senate Bill 474, sponsored by State Senator Andy Berke (D-10) was the companion bill to HB 70 and was automatically sent to a dead file.

• Senate Bill 2276, sponsored by State Senator Jim Kyle (D-28), would authorize the Department of Safety to present a law enforcement officer’s service weapon to the spouse or child of an officer who dies in the line of duty.  SB 2276 unanimously passed the Senate on Thursday, April 9.  The House adopted and passed SB 2276 on Monday, April 20 by a unanimous vote of 95 to 0.  House Bill 2313, sponsored by State Representative Eddie Bass (D-65), was the companion bill to SB 2276 and was automatically sent to a dead file. 

On Monday, April 27, Governor Phil Bredesen (D) signed two pro-gun bills into law.

• House Bill 46, sponsored by State Representative Joshua Evans (R-66), would prohibit the Department of Safety or any department-approved handgun safety employee from requiring an applicant for a carry permit to furnish any identifying information concerning any handgun the applicant owns or possesses.

• House Bill 254, sponsored by State Representative Glen Casada (R-63), would delete the requirement to give a thumbprint as part of the background check process when purchasing a firearm.

Thank you to fellow sponsors, State Senator Jim Tracy (R-16) and Republican Majority Leader, State Senator Mark Norris (R-32), for their hard work and dedication in passing these important pro-gun measures.

House and Senate sponsor’s and cosponsor’s of HB 962:

1.  State Representative Curry Todd (R-95)     

2.  Joe McCord  (R-8)

3.  Harry Tindell  (D-13)          

4.  Joshua Evans (R-66)          

5.  Henry Fincher (D-42)           

6.  Eric Watson (R-22)              

7.  Chad Faulkner (R-36)        

8.  Jimmy Eldridge (R-73)        

9.  Donna Rowland (R-34)      

10.  Gerald McCormick (R-26)           

11.  Eddie Bass (D-65)           

12.  Jim Hackworth (D-33)     

13.  Curt Cobb (D-62)

14.  Joe Carr (R-48)     

15.  Judd Matheny (R-47)         

16.  Jason Mumpower (R-3)   

17.  Richard Floyd (R-27)       

18.  Mike Bell (R-23)    

19.  Ron Lollar (R-99)

20.  Glen Casada (R-63)           

21.  Barrett Rich (R-94)            

22.  Susan Lynn (R-57)           

24.  Tony Shipley (R-2)           

25.  Vince Dean (R-30)           

26.  Curtis Johnson (R-68)      

27.  Phillip Johnson (R-78)      

28.  Frank Niceley (R-17)         

29.  John Tidwell (D-74)           

30.  David Shepard (D-69)      

31.  Matthew Hill (R-7)             

32.  Bob Ramsey (R-20)         

33.  Curtis Halford (R-79)       

34.  Ryan Haynes (R-14)           

35.  Eric Swafford (R-25)          

36.  Debra Young Maggart (R-45)      

37.  Joey Hensley (R-70)           

38.  Ben West (D-60) 

39.  Richard Montgomery (R-12)        

40.  Vance Dennis (R-71)        

41.  Harry Brooks (R-19)        

42.  Jimmy Matlock (R-21)     

43.  Bill Dunn (R-16)     

44.  David Hawk (R-5)

45.  Jon Lundberg (R-1)            

46.  Terri Lynn Weaver (R-40)

47.  Dennis Roach (R-35)          

48.  Dale Ford (R-6)

49.  Gary Moore (D-50)         

50.  George Fraley (D-39)

Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates on these bills.