TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Feb 27, 2020

Gov. Bill Lee this morning announced plans to introduce legislation that would allow Tennesseans to carry handguns without a permit, the Tennessean reports. Under the bill, legal gun owners would be able to forego the state permit process requiring a background check and safety training. Lee said the measure would make the state safer as it also increases penalties for illegal gun possession and thefts. The announcement was quickly met with praise from the National Rifle Association and with pushback from Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk and Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich. A similar bill was introduced to the General Assembly in 2016, during which time officials from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Highway Patrol spoke out against it.