At this point in the Legislative cycle, the Republican super majority in the Legislature has done a good job of stopping most, but not all, Democrat sponsored bills.
On the other hand, the Republican super majority, in its use of the committee system, has also stopped most, but not all, of the Republican sponsored pro-2nd Amendment legislation. Given the history of the Republican super majority since 2010 when it came into existence at the beginning of the Haslam administration, that pattern of failing to support true Second Amendment legislation is at least a consistent pattern albeit it one that cannot be reconciled with what they say when they are campaigning or meeting with local GOP groups. That failure lies predominately at the feet of those in the Senate and House leadership for failing to lead on the promise to restore constitutional rights to Tennesseans.
TFA weekly bill report.
Here are some of this week’s failures:
SB1325/HB1202 by Sen. Bailey and Rep. Williams. This bill could have done well to advance the safety of our schools by allowing those employees who can and want to be armed on the school campus to do so. The problem with the bill, and there are many, is that it requires the school employees who want to merely exercise this constitutionally protected right by carrying on campus to undergo at least 40 hours of law enforcement (POST) qualified training annually that is specific to school policing and to pass a mental health professional’s evaluation which evaluation concludes that the individual is free from any impairment that would affect the faculty or staff member’s ability to safely possess and carry a concealed weapon on school grounds. In some respects, this legislation may be imposing requirements on school employees that are higher than what full time law enforcement may be required to have. The Senate passed the bill on April 9 but it has not been passed by the House yet. The legislation lacks any clear evidence that it complies with the United States Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen.
SB1769/HB1640 by Sen. Lundberg and Rep. Lamberth seeks to expand Tennessee law regarding individuals who are found to be mentally impaired in criminal court proceedings. The bill is set for the House Floor on April 15 and continues to move forward in the Senate. The bill The legislation lacks any clear evidence that it complies with the United States Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen.
SB2516/HB2689 by Sen. Roberts and Rep. Doggett. This bill pertained to the ability to bring a civil rights cause of action against government officials who violate a citizens rights as protected by the Second Amendment. The bill was taken off notice by Sen. Roberts but there is no indication why it was taken off notice, when Senate Judiciary members opposed it or whether any state agencies or law enforcement organizations opposed it. Once it failed in the Senate, the House sponsor took the dead bill off notice in the House. This was good legislation that should have moved forward and at this point it is not clear which Legislators were communicating, if any, that they did not support it other than what we do have in communications with Sen. John Stevens who is one the Senate Judiciary Committee where this bill was killed.
SB2911/HB1600 by Sen. Bailey and Rep. Williams. This bill would create a temporary “prohibited person” status for individuals who have certain convictions as a juvenile which temporary 2nd Amendment prohibition would last until the individual turns 25. The bill continues to move forward in both the House and Senate. The legislation lacks any clear evidence that it complies with the United States Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen.
SB2912/HB2032 by Sen. Bailey and Rep. Barrett. This bill would have changed the “posting” law by requiring that the manager/operator of the posted property ask the individual who is believed to be in possession of a firearm to leave the property and the person must refuse to do so before criminal charges could be brought. This is a good bill but the bill apparently had opposition from Legislative leadership and was taken off notice – that is it died – in both Houses.
SJR904 that would alter the Tennessee Constitution to state that the citizens of this state have the right to keep, bear and wear arms and removing the now unconstitutional clause in the constitution which provides that the Legislature would have the authority, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view toward crime prevention. The passage of the resolution is necessary to put this amendment on the state’s election ballot in 2026. The Senate passed the bill on April 9. However, the House version of the bill, HJR0038 was killed by being taken “off notice” apparently due to the direction from House leadership. This is outrageous and those responsible for denying the citizens of the State of Tennessee from having the opportunity to vote on this constitutional amendment need to be identified and removed from office.
Tennessee Legislative Calendar for week of April 15, 2024.
There are a few bills that we expect to be heard next week. TFA’s comments and position on the bills are included in the Calendar Report.
Bills that need your attention:
HB2082 by Rep. Fritts set for hearing on April 16 in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee has been amended so that it now deletes the provision in Tennessee law that makes it an offense for anyone to carry any firearm anywhere (including your own home) at any time “with the intent to go armed”. The bill has opposition from Bill Lee’s administration (the typical anti-gun Department of Safety which regularly sends Elizabeth Stroecker, who is paid by taxpayers, to tell the Legislators why Bill Lee and the Department of Safety opposes the full exercise of rights protected by the Second Amendment). Lee’s administration and the gun control advocates are apparently spreading misinformation about what the legislation would do in an effort to seduce legislators to oppose your rights also. Please contact your legislators with cell phone calls, text messages, personal visits, and using this TFA sponsored email tool to voice your support for this legislation. The Senate Judiciary has advanced the bill but it still has to be heard in Senate Finance, Senate Calendar and on the full Senate floor.
HB1600 by Rep. Williams is set for House Finance on April 16. This bill is the one that violates the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision and raises the age at which certain people can purchase or possess firearms to 25. It needs your calls to stop it.
2024 Candidate Qualifying Deadline was April 4, 2024
The candidate qualifying deadline for the State Legislature was April 4, 2024. A number of Republican incumbents who serve on the Senate Judiciary are up for re-election and have challengers including Sen. Jon Lundberg, Sen. Todd Gardenhire, Sen. John Stevens, and Sen. Paul Rose. Some other Senators, like Sen. Ferrell Haile who supported Red Flag legislation in 2023, also have challengers. There are also several proven Second Amendment Senators who have challengers. It will be important in both the House and Senate to watch for these candidates’ responses to the 2024 TFA Legislative survey and to consider their voting and sponsorship records as well.
A list of the individuals who have as of April 11, 2023, qualified to run for the State Legislature in 2024 is available on the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website.
John Harris | Executive Director Tennessee Firearms Association
Joining and supporting TFA is an investment in the fight to restore our constitutional rights and to fight against politicians who are willing to sell their votes and your rights to whichever business interest gives them the most money!
