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April 25, 2016
Legislature goes home - fails to enact constitutional carry or even permitless open carry
The Tennessee Legislature has concluded its business for the 2015-2016 legislative cycle. It has, with disappointment but without surprise, failed again to do what so many in the majority party had promised. It has failed again to pass bills on issues like constitutional carry, permitless open carry, material reduction in the number of gun free zones, strengthening the 2009 Firearms Freedom Act, prohibitions on the use of state funds to implement a federal gun control agenda and other issues.
While sister states like Idaho, Mississippi and West Virginia passed constitutional carry in 2016 and other states like Kansas and Maine did so in 2015, Tennessee's legislative leaders have turned their backs on the constitution and the citizens of this state. They have knuckled under to a governor who is a proven gun control advocate and who has repeatedly broken his promise to sign constitutional carry into law (www.tennesseefirearms.com/haslam)
What we have seen is that within the majority caucus we have a few legislators who are willing to do what needs to be done to honor their oaths and to push forward on restoring our constitutionally protected rights. Yet, we have increasing proof that some who have claimed loudly to be strong on the 2nd Amendment and who have claimed to believe firmly in constitutional carry have refused to even demand a vote on these issues. We now have proof that some who claim to be the champions of the 2nd Amendment are apparently more concerned about political power and careers than their promises and claimed convictions.
As the 2016 legislative cycle ends, however, the 2016 election cycle kicks into full swing. We have, as constitutional conservatives, literally at least 2 dozen races where challengers are taking on incumbents (such as in House District 61 in Williamson County) where those incumbents are directly tied to prior efforts to stonewall and defeat pro 2nd Amendment legislation. Other races which 2nd Amendment supporters need to be involved in will be discussed in subsequent updates but its already critical to watch races such as the Senate seat being vacated by Ron Ramsey.
Each of these races, even if not in your district, can and will impact legislative leadership and it is the legislative leadership that has been derailing the 2nd Amendment legislation that you are demanding. So, each such race that will attack the Establishment or defend our heroes are races in which you must be prepared to fight without regard to where it is located.
If we are going to bring Constitutional Carry legislation back in 2017, it is important that Legislative leadership and committee chairs be changed.
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Legislative Update Report - Bills that were Passed in 2016
The table below contains a list of legislation that TFA is tracking. This is not the entire list but only those bills which have had activity in the last 7 days.
The bills marked in Green are supported by TFA, those in Blue are being watched but TFA has not taken a position, and those in Red are opposed at this time as written.
NOTE: The legislature description of the bill, which is used below, may not reflect what ultimately passed as the substance of the bill.
Please review these bills carefully. Feel free to go to the TFA Facebook group and ask questions or advocate for or against the bills you like.
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| TFA Legislative Report Signed Bills | | April 25, 2016 |
| Bill # |
Summary |
Status |
|---|
| HJR0231 | Designates the Barrett Model M82/M107 as the official rifle of the State of Tennessee. | 2016-02-29 / Passed
Signed by Governor. |
| HB0682 | As enacted, rewrites the minimum requirements for phrases and symbols on signs prohibiting firearms in certain places open to the public. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13. | 2016-04-05 / Passed
Pub. Ch. 638 |
| HB0899 | As enacted, removes the tax exemption for certain machinery used for the manufacture of firearms. - Amends TCA Section 67-6-102. | 2016-04-11 / Passed
Sponsor(s) Added. |
| HB1094 | As introduced, permits constables who have law enforcement powers to carry firearms at all times and in all places in Tennessee that other law enforcement officers are permitted to carry firearms. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 10 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13. | 2016-04-12 / Passed
Signed by Governor. |
| HB1513 | As enacted, authorizes sheriffs and deputy sheriffs to retain service weapon upon retirement and completion of honorable service and approval by 2/3 vote of county legislative body. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 8, Part 2. | 2016-04-08 / Passed
Pub. Ch. 652 |
| HB1750 | As enacted, specifies that the authorization for a law enforcement officer to carry firearms at all times, regardless of the officer's regular duties, unless otherwise prohibited by federal law, court order, or otherwise by law, applies to a sheriff who has been certified by the POST commission, and a deputy sheriff employed by a county as a court officer or corrections officer as authorized in writing by the sheriff. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1350. | 2016-04-05 / Passed
Pub. Ch. 641 |
| HB1964 | As introduced, requires the instant check unit of the TBI to contact the agency making an entry of an order of protection into the national crime information center within one day if the subject of the order of protection attempts to purchase a firearm. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 38, Chapter 6 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13. | 2016-04-07 / Passed
Signed by Governor. |
| HB2575 | As introduced, makes various changes to handgun carry permits, including extending permit renewals to occur every eight years and lowering the initial application fee from $115 to $100. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1351. | 2016-04-07 / Passed
Signed by Governor. |
| SJR0391 | Urges the President, Congress, and the Secretary of Defense to review and revise law and policy regarding the carrying of firearms by military service members on military installations. | 2016-03-31 / Passed
Signed by Governor. |
| SB0774 | As enacted, rewrites the minimum requirements for phrases and symbols on signs prohibiting firearms in certain places open to the public. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13. | 2016-04-05 / Passed
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 638 |
| SB1559 | As introduced, requires the chief administrative officer of a private K-12 school or private institution of higher education to implement a handgun carry policy that either permits or prohibits a person who has a handgun carry permit from carrying on the grounds or buildings of a private K-12 school or private university. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 1 and Title 49, Chapter 50, Part 8. | 2016-04-06 / Passed
Signed by Governor. |
| SB1627 | As introduced, clarifies that deadly force may be used by nuclear security officers at nuclear power reactor facilities and not just category I nuclear facilities. - Amends TCA Section 39-11-611. | 2016-04-06 / Passed
Signed by Governor. |
| SB1658 | As enacted, authorizes sheriffs and deputy sheriffs to retain service weapon upon retirement and completion of honorable service and approval by 2/3 vote of county legislative body. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 8, Part 2. | 2016-04-08 / Passed
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 652 |
| SB1667 | As enacted, specifies that the authorization for a law enforcement officer to carry firearms at all times, regardless of the officer's regular duties, unless otherwise prohibited by federal law, court order, or otherwise by law, applies to a sheriff who has been certified by the POST commission, and a deputy sheriff employed by a county as a court officer or corrections officer as authorized in writing by the sheriff. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1350. | 2016-04-05 / Passed
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 641 |
| SB1760 | As introduced, extends immunity from civil liability to national guard members who are authorized by the military department to carry a personally owned handgun while in uniform and who use that handgun in self-defense or defense of others. - Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 1. | 2016-04-12 / Passed
Signed by Governor. |
| SB1991 | As introduced, prohibits public postsecondary institutions from taking any adverse action against an employee or student as a result of such person's lawful transportation and storage of a firearm or ammunition in the person's parked motor vehicle. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13 and Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 1. | 2016-04-14 / Passed
Signed by Governor. |
| TFA Legislative Report Enrolled Bills | | April 25, 2016 |
| Bill # |
Summary |
Status |
|---|
| HB1424 | As introduced, reduces the fee for a lifetime handgun carry permit from $500 to $200. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1351. | 2016-04-22 / Enrolled
Transmitted to Governor for his action. |
| HB2193 | As introduced, requires all court records be expunged within 60 days and the restoration of a person's status if a case is dismissed or an informal adjustment without adjudication is granted; allows a person adjudicated unruly to petition the juvenile court for expunction. - Amends TCA Section 37-1-153. | 2016-04-21 / Enrolled
Transmitted to Governor for his action. |
| HB2425 | As introduced, lowers the age for receiving a handgun carry permit from 21 years of age to 18 years of age. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1351. | 2016-04-22 / Enrolled
Transmitted to Governor for his action. |
| SB1490 | As introduced, exempts honorably discharged and retired veterans of the United States armed forces from firing range and classroom training requirements for handgun carry permits upon presenting a DD 214 form indicating a discharge or retirement date within five years of application for the permit. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13. | 2016-04-15 / Enrolled
Transmitted to Governor for action. |
| SB1665 | As introduced, waives the application and processing fee required with a lifetime handgun carry permit application for retired federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who retired in good standing as certified by the chief enforcement officer from the organization from which the applicant retired. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1351. | 2016-04-22 / Enrolled
Signed by H. Speaker |
| SB1736 | As introduced, establishes that if a person or entity posts to prohibit the possession of firearms on the property, the posting entity, for purposes of liability, assumes custodial responsibility for the safety and defense of any handgun carry permit holder harmed while on the posted property. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13. | 2016-04-21 / Enrolled
Transmitted to Governor for action. |
| SB1859 | As introduced, includes certain persons convicted of a Class D felony for theft of property or services, if the value of the property or services obtained is $1,000 or more but less than $10,000 as an offense that may be expunged from a person’s public record. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40. | 2016-04-21 / Enrolled
Transmitted to Governor for action. |
| SB2249 | As introduced, permits each LEA and each school board for private schools to determine whether someone with a Tennessee-issued handgun carry permit may carry a handgun while on the property of the public or private school and while traveling on school functions with students. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 49, Chapter 6. | 2016-04-22 / Enrolled
Signed by H. Speaker |
| SB2376 | As introduced, permits full-time employees of state public colleges or universities to carry a handgun while on property owned, operated, or used by the employing college or university if the employee has a valid Tennessee handgun carry permit. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 49. | 2016-04-22 / Enrolled
Signed by H. Speaker |
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