Pro-Gun Bills Defeated in Tennessee House!

The Tennessee House defeated the following pro-gun bills Wednesday, March 19:

• House Bill 410, sponsored by State Representative Curry Todd (R-95), Restaurant Carry legislation (similar to NRA-backed HB 702)
• House Bill 3667, sponsored by State Representative Frank Niceley (R-17), would have allowed any resident, who has a valid handgun carry permit, to possess his or her handgun while within the boundaries of any state park.  This legislation passed during the 2007 session, but was amended in the full House Judiciary Committee with a posting requirement attaching a huge fiscal note that ensured its failure in the Budget Committee.
• House Bill 3014, sponsored by State Representative Stacey Campfield (R-18), would have authorized full-time faculty and staff at colleges and universities in Tennessee to carry handguns.
• House Bill 3293, sponsored by State Representative Nathan Vaughn (D-02), would have allowed for persons who were voluntarily hospitalized in a mental facility to obtain a handgun carry permit after seven years.

The following bills were deferred to Wednesday, April 2 pending further evaluation:

• House Bill 702, sponsored by State Representative Joe McCord (R-08), allows 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. This important Right-to-Carry reform measure passed the State Senate by a vote of 24 to 6 in January.
• House Bill 3137, sponsored by State Representative Eddie Bass (D-65) and State Representative Mike Bell (R-23), which restricts public access to the records of concealed Right-to-Carry permit holders and prohibits their publication; and
• House Bill 3683, sponsored by State Representative Matthew Hill (R-07), would reduce the Right-to-Carry permit application fee from $115 to $100.  The current fee is one of the most expensive in the country and is aiding the Tennessee Department of Safety’s five million dollar surplus.

Finally, House Bill 3509 passed by a voice vote. HB 3509, sponsored by State Representatives Ulysses Jones (D-98) and Henry Fincher (D-42), would reform Tennessee’s “Castle Doctrine” laws to expand your right to self-defense to include businesses.  This legislation, last on the agenda, was passed without any discussion from the Sub-Committee. 

Please continue contacting members of the House Judiciary Sub-Committee in support of HB702, HB3137 and HB3683.

State Representative Janis Sontany (D-53)
(615) 741-6861
[email protected]

State Representative Henry Fincher (D-42)
(615) 741-1875
[email protected]

State Representative Eddie Bass (D-65)
(615) 741-1864
[email protected]

State Representative Rob Briley (D-52)
(615) 741-2184
[email protected]

State Representative Judd Matheny (R-47)
(615) 741-7448
[email protected]