Gov. Bill Lee and Republican allies in the Tennessee General Assembly are seeking to eliminate requirements that Tennesseans carrying a handgun pass a background check and complete safety training.
With Republicans in the supermajority in both chambers, it’s been mostly smooth sailing so far, and the Senate last week approved the legislation. As of press time, it was still making its way through the House.
But widespread support for the bill among Republicans in the legislature did not preclude debate. There was the typical dissent from Democrats, like Memphis Sen. Raumesh Akbari, who called the push an “unnecessary and dangerous move.”
Tennessee law enforcement agencies overwhelmingly oppose doing away with handgun permits, saying it will make their jobs more difficult when they encounter someone with a handgun. But that did not sway Tennessee Republicans, who usually seek to appear pro-police.
“We love and respect our law enforcement officers, but there’s been very few bills that have recognized the rights of citizens of this state to carry that law enforcement has not opposed almost unanimously,” Sen. Mike Bell (R-Riceville) said during one debate.
Even among conservatives there was some disagreement, as a trio of Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the measure on the Senate floor.
Sen. Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin) — perhaps committing apostasy within the Tennessee Republican Party — said during committee debate that he supported Moms Demand Action, a pro-gun-control organization lobbying against the bill. He ultimately abstained from voting the bill out of committee but said he was “struggling” with the prospect of people carrying handguns without any training.
“We don’t require training for other constitutional rights,” Bell said.
But the real fight has been between those supporting the bill and those who think it doesn’t go far enough. Fringe pro-gun groups like the Tennessee Firearms Association and the National Association for Gun Rights have been attacking the bill and its pro-gun backers.
For one, the new bill applies only to handguns, not all firearms. The bill also includes exceptions for people convicted of stalking and DUI charges as well as for those under 21 years old. Businesses and other private establishments could still post notice that weapons are not allowed on site, and gun owners would be expected to comply.
“This is the biggest bite of freedom we can get in one chunk,” House Majority Leader William Lamberth said during one committee debate.
Bell, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and carried the bill, said that anonymous attacks compared him to pro-regulation California Democrat Dianne Feinstein — despite Bell’s position as one of the most hardline anti-gun-control lawmakers.
Other lawmakers have proposed what they call “true constitutional carry,” as opposed to the watered-down version under consideration now. But there’s little energy behind those efforts, as Lee’s proposal continues its progress toward becoming law. Sen. Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield) is among those seeking “true constitutional carry,” and though he voted for the bill, he said his work on loosening gun restrictions was “absolutely not” done.
Bell said repeatedly that he still encourages Tennesseans to seek training, even though it would no longer be a requirement. If the bill passes, the state’s handgun permitting system will remain in place, despite the proposed elimination of any need for it. The bill is projected to cost the state millions of dollars, in part because of lost permit revenue, but also because it includes penalty enhancements for gun-related crimes including theft.
Democrats have been unsuccessful in their attempts to stop or weaken the bill. One effort sought to keep the permit requirement in place while eliminating any cost to individuals, but Republicans shot it down.
Asked by Democratic Sen. Brenda Gilmore of Nashville how people would know whether those carrying handguns had received any training, Bell responded with a shrug.
“We literally have no assurance, but that’s what comes when you have a freedom that’s guaranteed under the Constitution,” he said.
