Restaurant Carry Bill Takes a Step Forward in Tennessee!

Please Stand Up and Make Your Voices Heard!

Today, the House Judiciary Voted 8-4 to pass House Bill 2694, NRA-backed legislation, sponsored by State Representative Vance Dennis (R-71).  HB2694 was filed as an alternative to House Bill 3125.

HB3125, also NRA-supported, would enable a person who has a valid Right-to-Carry permit to carry a firearm for self-defense 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.  Introduced by State Representative Curry Todd (R-95), HB3125 was filed in response to a court ruling last November.  The current law was held to be unconstitutionally vague because of a perceived ambiguity over the state’s definition of restaurants.  HB3125 would fix any ambiguity.  HB3125 is currently tied up in the House Finance Ways and Means Budget Sub-Committee, despite having a positive fiscal impact. 

HB2694, similar to HB3125, repeals the current prohibition on Tennessee permit holders from carrying in a restaurant that serves alcohol as long as the permit holder is not consuming alcohol.  HB2694 does not have a significant fiscal impact and now heads to the House Calendars and Rules Committee, where it will be scheduled for a floor vote.  While HB2694 does not contain the posting provisions included in HB3125, it is still an important step toward passing restaurant carry legislation.  The movement of HB2694 should send a strong message to anti-gun legislators that the use of ambiguous arguments and political scheming should not be used to inhibit our Second Amendment rights.

Please contact your State Representative TODAY and respectfully urge them to support HB2694.  Also, please continue to contact the members of the House Budget Sub-Committee and urge them to pass HB3125.  Contact information for your State Representative can be found by clicking here.  Contact information for the Sub-Committee can be found below.

Speaker Kent Williams (R-4)
(615) 741-7450
[email protected]