Tennessee Constitutional Carry bill

I've been wrong before predicting what Lee will do. We'll see.

In my opinion, the "on line" permit available here in Tennessee is one of the most useless things in the gun community you can get. It is not recognized by a number of other states and it seems to be a simplified way of relieving the burden of the permit process from the Department of Safety. One of the things that allows Tennessee to have as many reciprocal states as we do is the fact that we have a full day class to get our permits. Constitutional carry is a good way of showing that Tennessee is a Second Amendment honoring state, but we must remember that Tennessee Constitutional carry would be good only in Tennessee and can not follow to other states. Those other states that have already passed it have had few if any problems and no increase in crime as a result.

Generally speaking and if true to form, a person that is suddenly allowed to carry a firearm that has not had to go through the day long process of obtaining a permit, soon finds it more a chore than a right and soon leaves the gun in the night table drawer. This was told to me by a few buddies that live in Constitutional carry states that have seen it first hand so it becomes sort of a self regulating process.

The Tennessee Firearms Association is an organization headed by John Harris, a Nashville lawyer that is instrumental in getting through some of the better laws that needed a "tune up" from the original writing. He brought up the short comings of the Governor's Bill and recommends SB318/HB18 as the best working alternative.

I agree with HSO in his assessment of the little chance that it will pass due to what we have seen in sessions gone by. Maybe this time there is a better chance of success. Many times the bills to allow it have been killed in committee and never got to the floor for a vote.

Here are the links to the actual bills. One has to select to view the drafts within each referenced link.

https://legiscan.com/TN/text/HB0786/id/2281005

https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/SB0765/2021

Just noticed hso's post had a similar link.

The bills affect those people who would meet the qualifications for obtaining an enhanced carry permit. One of those qualifications is to be a Tennessee resident or a non-resident who is employed in Tennessee. That seems to mean that everyone else would have to have a permit from another state in order to legally carry concealed.

I was probably misinformed about states that allow constitutional carry to their residents vs. non residents just passing through. My initial belief was that if a state allowed constitutional carry, it was for that state only, but further research shows there are some states that allow non-residents to carry constitutionally if that non-resident can legally carry a firearm.

According to the web site, "concealedguns.procon.org/state-by-state-concealed"
there are some states that do allow non-resident to carry constitutionally as follows:

Constitutional Carry and Shall Issue to Residents & Non-Residents
10
Residents and non-residents are allowed to carry concealed firearms without a permit. However, the state will issue permits if the applicant meets the requirements.
Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, and North Dakota

But like any internet information (including what I formerly posted , the information may be skewed.

Lern somptin' knew evry dahy.

I like to cross state borders so I'll just keep my permit and not worry IF I'm legal or not.

Bill

I look at the online permit as more of an option for semi-handicapped or those with other restrictions. For instance, I have neighbor who had a heart transplant and is still somewhat mobil and active, but can't really endure a full enhanced permit class.

If Gov. Lee signs the "Permit-Less Carry Bill" and the chances are great that he will, keep in mind it is not a true Constitutional carry bill.

It does not allow people between the ages of 18-20, those that can go to war and die for us, unless someone is in the military or honorably discharged from the military and is at least 18 years old. Non military people must wait until 21 years of age.

Also, there are restricted areas that someone with a permit can go like public parks and greenways.

The above information comes from the Tennessee Firearms Association web site.
https://tennesseefirearms.com/2021/04/bill-lees-hallmark-2nd-amendment-legislation/

It's a start; now get get work with the legislators to fix the problems! (I have actually had coffee with John Harris a few times back in the 90s.)

Idaho had a few renditions of the so-called "constitutional carry" laws before they got it right. Same with other states.

From memory (and I only lived here for six years so memory is limited) it was all Idaho citizens, over 21, could carry concealed anywhere in the state but 18-20 could only carry outside of a city of a certain size (biggest problem is you don't always know when you pass into a large city or it might be while on an interstate). Then they went to all citizens can carry from 18 up anywhere in the state, and then they finally went to ALL in the state, over 18, regardless of state residence. (Other exceptions are still there such as legal to own, etc.)

Well, parks and greenways are places I would most want to carry, because those are the very places that I tend to carry large, highly-visible, expensive photography equipment. So, my having a carry license recognized in TN remains important.

We live in Texas, where a permit-less carry bill is active, right now, and stands a decent chance of passing, but keeping a Texas LTC remains important for traveling in states that recognize the Texas LTC.

hso said:

Since TX has always followed a bit behind TN, TN will recognize your permit.

When TX finally gets permitless carry, I expect TN will recognize that as well.

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Texas has not, generally, been as friendly to handgun carry as Tennessee. It will be interesting to see the final form of the Texas permit-less carry bill, when it reaches a vote in the state senate.

Actually, I am lucky to have the LEOSA, too, but what the US congreth giveth, the US congreth can taketh away, so, anything that the states will recognize is good to have. (Plus, panic-demics can make it difficult to shoot that annual qual that the LEOSA requires.)

hso said:

View attachment 992744

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This looks good, and the language is predictable, but I am concerned about amendments. In the 2015 legislative session, such a thing happened when knife carry law was considerably improved, when the “Location Restricted Knife” part was added, and became part of the final bill. (BTW, there is a bill, being considered in this session, that would un-do that “Location-Restricted” stuff.)

Another concern is someone in the Senate inserting an amendment that would cause enough controversy to cause a delay that would last until the end of the legislative session, resulting in time running out. The Texas legislature meets for a relatively short time, in odd-numbered years, so, many bills die that way. (And, of course, such shenanigans happen in every legislative body, to sabotage bills.)