It is important that you take action today and Wednesday this week.
By John Harris / Tennessee Firearms Association
The Senate and the House are both scheduled to consider SB765/HB786 this week. The Senate Judiciary has it scheduled for Tuesday at 3pm (streaming only). The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee has it scheduled for Wednesday at 9am (streaming only). This is the so called “Governor’s Bill”.
It is not REAL Constitutional Carry. It is a massive crime bill that includes an exception to a criminal charge of carrying a firearm with the intent to go armed. The exception has at least three problems. It does not apply to all who can legally possess a firearm. Second, it does not apply to any firearm. A third problem is that there are perhaps 2 proposed amendments which amendments have not been made available on the state’s website for the public to digest.
It is important to understand that REAL Constitutional Carry provides that any person who can legally possess a firearm can carry that firearm …. period. Real Constitutional Carry would also eliminate gun free zones so that the person can actually carry the firearm without being charged under Tennessee’s numerous “gun free zone” statutes.
It is important to understand that if we don’t see Real Constitutional Carry this year that the effort to get Real Constitutional Carry in Tennessee will continue year after year as a top priority until it is achieved.
UPDATE: We are being told that there are at least two amendments to be offered on the “Governor’s Bill” this week. The more they offer amendments the further it seems to get from Constitutional Carry. The amendments would potentially
— be 21 and up unless the person is 18 and up with active or retired military service.
That gives rise to the potential problem that non-military 18 year olds may have an equal protection federal claim for denial of a constitutional right.
— be handgun only rather than any firearm
— have an unclear provision that the exception would only apply if the person is in a place or location where they have a right to be (what does that mean on issues like employee safe commute, public parks, etc.)
— would not be available to those with certain “enhanced permit” disqualifications such as a number of DUIs within a time frame. This list does not appear to have any exceptions for prior convictions or events with pardons, restorations or court ordered injunctions against enforcement. See State v. Johnson The “Governor’s bill” could be amended with language from HB18 and have a good start toward REAL Constitutional Carry but it appears that the amendments is to move it further and further from REAL Constitutional Carry. If this concerns you, call your legislators. Call the committee members. Demand that your “rights” not be infringed just because it “seemed reasonable”. END OF UPDATE
This is the call to action on SB765/HB786 which is in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 2:
1. Call the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. Call Lt. Governor Randy McNally. Call Speaker Cameron Sexton. Also call your individual House and Senate members. Phone numbers for committee members are below.
2. Tell them you want SB765/HB786 to be fixed by amending in the language from SB318/HB18 which does have REAL constitutional carry language in it and which also addresses gun free zones.
3. Tell them you want “any person who can legally possess a firearm to be able to carry that firearm” – not 21 and up, not handgun only – “any person who can legally possess a firearm to be able to carry that firearm”
4. “please pass REAL Constitutional Carry – Pass a law that allows any person who can legally possess a firearm to carry that firearm.”
5. Tell them you are a constituent and you want this fixed right so that we don’t have to come back next year or the year after that to get it to REAL Constitutional Carry.Call to action on SB318/HB18 which is in the House hearing on March 3:
HB18 better than governor’s bill
1. Call the members of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. Also call your individual House and Senate members. Call Speaker Cameron Sexton. Also call your individual House and Senate members. Phone numbers for committee members are below.
2. Tell them you prefer HB18 over the “Governor’s Bill”.
3. Tell them you want “any person who can legally possess a firearm to be able to carry that firearm” – not 21 and up, not handgun only – “any person who can legally possess a firearm to be able to carry that firearm”
4. “please pass REAL Constitutional Carry – Pass a law that allows any person who can legally possess a firearm to carry that firearm.”
Gardenhire on list to call
5. Tell them you are a constituent and you want this fixed right so that we don’t have to come back next year or the year after that to get it to REAL Constitutional Carry. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (615) 741-6806 Speaker Cameron Sexton (615) 741-2343
Senate Judiciary: Chairman Mike Bell (615) 741-1946 1st Vice Chair Dawn White (615) 741-6853 2nd Vice Chair Paul Rose (615) 741-1967 Todd Gardenhire (615) 741-6682 Sara Kyle (615) 741-4167 Jon Lundberg (615) 741-5761 Kerry Roberts (615) 741-4499 Katrina Robinson (615) 741-2509John Stevens (615) 741-4576
House Criminal Justice Subcommittee: Chairman Clay Doggett – (615) 741-7476 Bill Beck – (615) 741-3229 Michael Curcio – (615) 741-3513Andrew Farmer – (615) 741-4419 Bruce Griffey – (615) 741-6804 G.A. Hardaway – (615) 741-5625 Dan Howell – (615) 741-7799 William Lamberth – (615) 741-1980 Debra Moody – (615) 741-3774 Lowell Russell – (615) 741-3736 Jerry Sexton – (615) 741-2534
It is critical to make these calls and right now you have 2 days to do it.
