Tennessee: Two Pro-Gun Bills Pass House Subcommittee

Tennessee: Two Pro-Gun Bills Pass House Subcommittee

Yesterday, the House Civil Justice Subcommittee passed House Bill 1407 and House Bill 1483 by a voice vote. Both bills have already been scheduled for next week's House Civil Justice Committee agenda. This committee hearing will be held on Wednesday, March 12, at 12:00 noon in House Hearing Room 30 (HHR30) of the state Capitol.

Sponsored by state Representative Tilman Goins (R-10), HB 1407 would allow law-abiding Tennesseans with a Handgun Carry Permit (HCP) to carry a firearm into all state, city, county and municipal parks. Current Tennessee law allows a municipality or county to prohibit the possession of handguns, and therefore one's right to self-defense, while within a public park, natural area, historic park, nature trail, campground, forest, greenway, waterway or other similar public place that is owned or operated by a county or municipality. This law poses a problem for citizens by creating a patchwork of laws across the state with regard to which localities have prohibited firearms in their parks.

HB 1483, sponsored by state Representative Debra Moody (R-81), would remove all grandfathered ordinances and resolutions passed before April 8, 1986 with regards to the prohibition or regulation of possession, transportation or storage of firearms and firearm ammunition by HCP holders.

Using the contact information provided below, please call AND e-mail members of the House Civil Justice Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to SUPPORT HB 1407 and HB 1483.

House Civil Justice Committee:

Representative Jon Lundberg (R-1), Chairman
(615) 741-7623
Rep.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov

Representative Rick Womick (R-34), Vice-Chairman
(615) 741-2804
Rep.rick.womick@capitol.tn.gov

Representative Mike Carter (R-29)
(615) 741-3025
Rep.mike.carter@capitol.tn.gov

Representative Jim Coley (R-97)
(615) 741-8201
Rep.jim.coley@capitol.tn.gov

Representative John J. DeBerry JR. (D-90)
(615) 741-2239
Rep.john.deberry@capitol.tn.gov

Representative Vance Dennis (R-71)
(615) 741-2190
Rep.vance.dennis@capitol.tn.gov

Representative Andrew Farmer (R-17)
(615) 741-4419
Rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov

Representative Ryan A. Haynes (R-14)
(615) 741-2264
Rep.ryan.haynes@capitol.tn.gov

Representative Sherry Jones (D-59)
(615) 741-2035
Rep.sherry.jones@capitol.tn.gov

Representative Mike Stewart (D-52)
(615) 741-2184
Rep.mike.stewart@capitol.tn.gov