Tennessee: House Subcommittee Chairman Removes Park Carry Bill from Schedule

Tennessee: House Subcommittee Chairman Removes Park Carry Bill from Schedule Your Immediate Action Needed to Force Action Last night, House Bill 1407, sponsored by state Representative Tilman Goins (R-10), was removed from the hearing notice in the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee.  Please contact Chairman Mike Harrison immediately and urge him to return HB 1407 on his subcommittee calendar. As previously reported here, HB 1407 would allow law-abiding Tennesseans with a Handgun Carry Permit (HCP) to carry a firearm in 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 at 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 1407 was referred to the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee due to a fiscal note on this bill.  Having been placed behind the state budget, HB 1407's sponsor, Representative Goins, prepared an amendment to remove the fiscal note, therefore making no additional funding needed. HB 1407 was removed from the subcommittee schedule last night by Chairman Mike Harrison (R-9).  HB 1407 requires subcommittee approval before it can be considered by the House Finance Committee and proceed to the House floor.  It is imperative that you contact House Subcommittee Chairman Mike Harrison IMMEDIATELY, and urge him to include House Bill 1407 on the calendar for subcommittee consideration and give it a hearing.  The 2014 legislative session will adjourn this week and this is the last chance to pass this common sense self-defense legislation this year.  Contact information for the subcommittee chairman is provided below.    Representative Mike Harrison (R-9), Chairman House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee (615) 741-7480 Rep.mike.harrison@capitol.tn.gov

John Hames