Guns Rights for Tennessee!!

[Brush Buster]

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House of Representatives

State of Tennessee

Representative Joey Hensley, MD
Legislative Update




Second Amendment Rights Restored to Tennessee Citizens



This year, the General Assembly passed several bills that uphold the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right to bear arms. Second amendment rights advocates have worked for the past two decades for restoration of their rights. Tennessee's Constitution also guarantees that “the citizens of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms.” There has been some unnecessary confusion surrounding these laws in the news. These laws are clearly written and easy to understand. Since we already know that the criminals are carrying their illegal weapons in these places, it only seems fair that law abiding, permit holding citizens be allowed to protect themselves from harm. Following are some of the bills passed this year restoring the rights of law-abiding citizens to own and carry firearms.



Right to Carry / Restaurants – State lawmakers approved a bill, and reaffirmed that vote by overriding the governor’s veto, to allow law-abiding handgun permit holders to “carry” into restaurants serving alcohol as long as the owners of the premises have not posted notification that they are banned. Those who are in possession of a handgun are already prohibited from consuming alcohol or face a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a $2,000 fine and up to 11 months and 29 days in jail. There are 220,000 gun carry permit holders in Tennessee. Thirty-seven states allow legal permit holders to carry into locations that serve alcohol.



Parks – Legislation passed this session which will allow legal gun carry permit holders to possess a firearm in state or federal parks in Tennessee. The bill also allows local government bodies to maintain control of concealed carry within local parks. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Interior, there were 8 murders, 43 forcible rapes, 57 robberies and 274 instances of aggravated assault in parks nationwide in 2007. In January, the federal government lifted a regulation that banned guns in national parks and wildlife refuges.



Similarly, the legislature approved a bill extending those privileges to carry into wildlife refuges, public hunting areas, wildlife management areas or national forest land.



Confiscation of Weapons / Martial law -- In other action involving firearms, legislation limiting the power of the government to confiscate firearms and restrict the sale of ammunition during martial law was approved. The bill prohibits the confiscation of weapons from law-abiding citizens or restricting the ability to purchase guns and ammunition during times of martial law. The law already makes that provision in cases of a natural disaster or declared emergency





Thumbprint – Another bill approved this year regarding firearms deletes the current requirement for a gun buyer to provide a thumbprint as part of the background check process. Tennessee is the only state in the nation that requires a thumbprint from gun permit applicants. Since the 1998 enactment of Tennessee’s conceal and carry law, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has only asked for one thumbprint due to a challenge from a person who was denied the right to purchase a firearm and that print was smudged and unusable



Instructors -- Lawmakers also approved a measure to clarify that neither the state nor an instructor or employee of a department-approved handgun safety course is authorized to require an applicant for a handgun carry permit to furnish or reveal private identifying information. This includes information regarding any handgun the applicant owns, possesses, or uses during the safety course, or the serial number of the weapon.



The bill was filed in response to an incident late last year, when the Department of Safety sent letters to all firearms instructors requiring them to complete and return a roster of students and to provide information on each student including the name of the firearm owner, the name of the student using the firearm, and the make, model, and serial number of firearms used.



Law enforcement -- Finally, the legislature approved a new law which allows retired full time commissioned police officers access to law enforcement shooting ranges when they are not being used by personnel.



Tenth Amendment -- The Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act was passed this year stating that all firearms sold and contained in Tennessee are not subject to federal regulations. This bill addresses the increasing threats to state sovereignty by the federal government through attempts to regulate intra-state commerce.



If you have any questions or concerns about these or any other laws, please feel free to contact your representitive

[Cane Pole]

Alcohol and guns ain't a good mix. Ask Dick.

[BigSandyRookie]

Alcohol and guns ain't a good mix. Ask Dick.

A very true statement CP. It's still a crime to possess a handgun under the influence. Always has been. It will also cost you your carry permit. This legislation only allows permit holders to carry where alcohol is served. If they chose to drink, they'd better leave the gun at home.