Podcast Updates
TFA is doing a series of podcast interviews with some of Tennessee's most staunch 2nd Amendment supports in the Legislature. This week we have released the interviews with Rep. Jerry Sexton (who is carrying the 2022 version of a true constitutional carry bill) and Rep. John Ragan. These podcasts in addition to all of the ones previously released are on the TFA Podcast page.
If you are a Legislator who would like to participate in an interview with TFA, please contact johnharris@tennesseefirearms.com or, if you are a constituent and would like to have your legislator participate in an interview please call him or her and urge them to contact us to schedule the interview.
Legislative Calendar - Week of February 21
There are 9 committee hearings the week of February 21 that will take up various tracked bills in the House or Senate. Several of these are instances where your calls and support or opposition need to be made. All of these bills are listed in the attached PDF.
Please call and email the committee members (email addresses are in the PDF) as well as your individual House and Senate members on the following bills in particular. Talking points are in the PDF.
SUPPORT:
HB1898 by Grills is set for Tuesday in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee at 9:00am. This bill would convert the existing enhanced and concealed only handgun permits to "firearms" permits. The 2nd Amendment does not limit itself to handguns and no such limitation under existing Tennessee law to handguns only is constitutionally sound under the "shall not be infringed" mandate.
SB2823 by Roberts is set for Tuesday in the Senate Judiciary at 3:00pm. This bill has been named in honor of House member Mike Carter, a retired judge who is now deceased, because Rep. Carter worked diligently to held develop the policy contained in this legislation that those who are forced to use self-defense or other justifiable force should not be upcharged by certain district attorneys or forced to bear the full costs and expenses of a criminal trial when the fact of self-defense is genuinely indisputable.
OPPOSE:
HB2850 by Rep. Kumar is set for Tuesday in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee at 9:00am. This bill seeks to create a "voucher program" so that state taxpayers would incur an estimated cost of approximately $13,500,000 per year on a recurring bases to give "vouchers" so that individuals purchasing handguns can get a coupon that they can redeem for firearms training classes. While TFA supports training, TFA does not support taxing some citizens to provide cost subsidies to others on the issue of firearms training.
HB4777 by Rep. M. White is set for Tuesday in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee at 9:00am. This bill would expand an equal protection problem under current Tennessee law where some citizens, those classified as "off duty" law enforcement officers, have the ability to carry firearms in places and locations not in the course and scope of their on duty functions which places are classified as "gun free zones" for all other citizens. While TFA takes the position that officers who are on duty and in the actual course and scope of their duties should generally not be impeded when it comes to firearms custody, TFA does not believe it to be constitutionally sound that some citizens are granted exceptions or privileges which are denied to other citizens based on an off-duty individual's on-duty job considerations. Self-defense and personal defense is a fundamental right and all citizens should be treated equally under the law when "off duty" or on "personal time".
HB1830 by Rep. Lamar is set for Wednesday in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee at 9:00 a.m. This bill seeks to further efforts to pursue a gun control agenda by requiring the department of health to study and report on gun violence as a public health problem. While there is likely a need to have increased data on juvenile violence, violent crime and the socio-economic, social and judicial system, and educational factors influencing violent crime trends in Tennessee, that study is more properly focused on all crime and perhaps reported through the TBI. Any effort to make it a "public health" issue and limited to firearms is spending tax dollars in an effort to support progressive efforts to further gun control.
HB2087 by Rep. White is set for Wednesday in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee at 9:00 a.m. and seeks to make it a criminal offense of someone to store a firearm in a personal vehicle.
TFA and GOA Lobby Day - March 16
Join
GOA-TN and Tennessee Firearms Association in Nashville on March 16, 2022! It is important for you to register now so that we can plan resources for the event. If you are interested in attending but would also be interested in potentially carpooling or even arranging for a bus, please contact GOA's new state director, Jo Staats at jo.staats@gunowners.org about contacting other interested attendees in your area or the potential for bus transportation.
There
is no better way to let our elected representatives know how to best represent
us than showing up and having conversations. Plan to attend the 2022 Gun Owners
Lobby Day to hear from representatives across the state and meet personally
with your representatives!
TFA
is joining with Gun Owners of America again this year to bring Gun Owners Lobby
Day to Tennesseans statewide. Our Lobby Day event is just the beginning! Don’t
miss your opportunity to connect with fellow Second Amendment supporters and
lawmakers combined. Click the “Register” button below the picture and follow GOA-TN and Tennessee Firearms Association on Facebook for exciting
announcements as plans develop!
Details
Date:
March 16
Cost:
Free
TFALAC Event
Finally,
the TFALAC (TFA’s political action committee) has set its annual BBQ
lunch and auction for Saturday, September 3, 2022 at the Farm Bureau
Expo Center in Wilson county, Tennessee. Please sign up as sponsors, vendors or purchase your tables and tickets. |
