From all observable facts, Tennessee Republican controlled Legislature, or perhaps more accurately the Republican Leadership, seems to have a mission to stonewall, defeat or block any Second Amendment proposals once again. Certainly, the Republican Legislative Leadership is bolstered by its friends in Bill “Lame Duck” Lee’s administration given the predictable anti-Second Amendment testimony from Elizabeth Stroecker (Tennessee Department of Safety) and Patrick Powell (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation). The Republican leadership also apparently does as requested by the Tennessee Sheriffs Association and Chiefs of Police Association (lobbyist – Jimmy Musice) and the District Attorney’s Conference (Exec. Dir – Stephen Crump).
Although the Legislature has not concluded its work, or perhaps a better phrase would be its “tax increases and other damage,” so far in 2025, it has certainly managed to kill every piece of pro-Second Amendment legislation that was identified by TFA as a priority. See the Bill Status Report of Supported bills.
Constitutional Amendment – dead.
True constitutional carry – dead.
Elimination of “intent to go armed” – dead.
Removing restriction on use of deadly force to protect real or personal property when necessary – dead.
Joining 43 other states that allow longarm carry – dead.
Protecting the Second Amendment as a Civil Right – dead.
Criminal immunity for self-defense use of force – dead.
Next, let’s consider what has passed this year so far. One good bill (SB1360 by Sen. Hensley and HB873 by Rep. Fritts) which is predominately an expansion to the existing PLCAA “Protection of Lawful Commerce of Arms Act” passed this year – but the anti-Second Amendment Governor could still veto it. Another bill which apparently has an extremely powerful lobbying voice is the one that now gives those hunters who don’t look good in “blaze orange” the option to wear “fluorescent pink” (SB206 by Massey / HB646 by Carringer). The remaining bills that have passed so far were tracked because they had broad captions suggesting possible amendments but as passed have relatively minimal benefit to Second Amendment advocates.
Another bill that passed demonstrates either the animus that Senator Jack Johnson and Representative William Lamberth have for the Second Amendment or their schemes to create confusion and opportunities for arrest for people who are simply trying to exercise their rights. These two sponsored a caption bill that was amended in committee to do something entirely different than the original bill suggested. In the amendment, these two conspired to lower the age for enhanced handgun permit holders from 21 to 18. See, SB1318/HB1332 as amended) Of course, that is something the state agreed in a 2023 federal settlement (Beeler) that it would do. However, the federal settlement, which found that prohibiting those who are 18-20 from carrying a handgun violated the 2nd and 14th Amendments and constituted a federal civil rights violation. This change in the law by Sen. Johnson and Rep. Lamberth is silent on reducing the age limit for concealed handgun permit holders as well as for those who rely on the the affirmative defenses for permitless carry. One has to wonder if they intentionally tried to create such confusion and potentially traps for the unwary or if they are merely reckless with trying to comply with a federal settlement.
Finally, there are several bills that are scheduled for hearings the week of April 21, 2025. First, none of the bills advances Second Amendment rights in Tennessee. None of the bills removes or repeals any infringements. Several of the bills should implicate the requirements of the Supreme Court’s Bruen mandate that the state demonstrate a “national historical tradition” of firearms regulation – but none of them carry that burden. Frankly, all of the remaining bills should be defeated. However, of these, please note:
SJR25 by Jack Johnson. This bill would amend the state constitute to limit or preclude bail in certain circumstances. This is something that could be done by statute and that would provide an easier process to fix mistakes if done by statute (constitutional amendments can only be considered every 4 years). Apparently, this is consider by Senator Johnson and others in leadership as far more important than HJR53, which was blocked in the House last week, which seeks to amend the state constitution to bring it into conformity with the Second Amendment and the Supreme Court’s McDonald (2010) ruling.
HB1093 (Speaker Sexton) / SB1075 (Sen. Jack Johnson) – this is one of those “headfake” deceptive bills. It was filed as one to modify hearing procedures if someone’s handgun permit was suspended or revoked. Then, it was suddenly amended by the House Sponsor to completely change the effect of the legislation. It now seeks, among other things, to materially change the definition of a machinegun under state law. The problem that this creates is that machineguns already have very technical definitions under federal law and this amendment risks creating state law ambiguities that could give rise to different interpretations of state and federal law. Oppose this rushed proposed change in the law particularly since neither sponsor has a history establishing a clear or strong understanding of either the 2nd Amendment or the Supreme Court’s rulings relative to the Second Amendment.
HB33 (Gillispie) – this bill seeks to establish a presumption that a defendant should not be released on the defendant’s personal recognizance if the defendant is charged with an offense that involved the use or display of a firearm or resulted in the serious bodily injury or death of the victim.
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!
