A Tennessee lawmaker has filed a bill that would allow certain Tennesseans to carry rifles or shotguns, not just handguns.
Representative Rusty Grills (R-Newbern-HD77) has filed a bill that “renames enhanced and concealed handgun carry permits as enhanced and concealed firearm carry permits and authorizes a permit holder to carry any firearms, rather than handguns, that the permit holder legally owns or possesses; expands the circumstances in which a permit holder may carry a firearm.”
This would essentially transform the Tennessee handgun permits to firearms permits.
The legislation Amends TCA Title 10; Title 33; Title 36; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 50 and Title 70 by replacing the variations of the word “handgun” with variations of the word “firearms” in many places.
If passed, this legislation would take effect on July 1, 2022.
In 2021, the General Assembly passed a law that is a version of Constitutional Carry that allows most Tennesseans 21 years of age and older to open or conceal carry handguns without applying for a permit. The existing permit program was kept in place due to the state’s reciprocity agreements with other states.
Tennessee has some sort of formal carry permit reciprocity agreements with 17 states. It is unclear how this legislation would affect those reciprocity agreements.
The Tennessee Firearms Association, in their Legislative Report and Calendar weekly email, detailed other bills dealing with guns and the 2nd Amendment that have recently been filed:
SB1773 / HB 1830 was filed by two Democrats seeking to require government agencies to develop programs to reduce gun violence in communities. The bill has a very broad caption and potentially could be used as a caption to do something very different.
SB1816 was filed by Democrat Sen. Heidi Campbell to impose further standards and requirements on the disposition of firearms in the possession of those convicted of domestic violence. The legislation would create a de facto government record of firearms owned by some civilians.
HB1735 was filed by Rep. Chris Todd. It would lower the age limit to 18 for those seeking to carry a handgun without a permit. However, it would retain material “perks” for those 18-20 year olds who are in or honorably released from the military from other 18-20 year olds and thus may give rise to equal protection concerns.
HB1738 was filed by Rep. Mike Sparks. It would extend the sales tax holiday on gun safes for 1 more year.
HB 1769 was filed by Rep. Bruce Griffey. This bill, which was reported in the media as the “Kyle [Rittenhouse] law” would provide a means for someone acquitted on criminal charges because of self-defense to potentially recover their attorney’s fees or costs from the state.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Rusty Grills” by Tennessee General Assembly.
