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Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Governor Bill Lee have appealed the trial court ruling declaring unconstitutional two gun control laws
On September 2, 2025, the Tennessee Attorney General, Jonathan
Skrmetti, filed a notice of appeal by himself, Governor Bill Lee, and
other co-defendants. In this appeal, the Attorney General apparently
seeks to reverse the entire three-judge panel ruling that two of
Tennessee’s gun control statutes – the “intent to go armed” statute and
the “parks” statute – are unconstitutional by violating the Tennessee
Constitution and, through it, the Second Amendment. In his arguments
before the three-judge panel, the Attorney General’s attorneys argued
that the statutes were constitutional.
The appeal could take one or more years to be addressed in the
Tennessee appellate court and potentially the Tennessee Supreme Court.
At the same time, the appeal potentially gives State Legislators
(primarily the Republican super-majority caucus) an excuse to refuse to
address the facially unconstitutional statutes by asserting that the
matter is being litigated and that the Legislature should await the
outcome of any appeals or subsequent trial court remands before acting.
Some might believe that the basic function of the Tennessee Attorney
General is to uphold, first and foremost, the constitution of the state
of Tennessee and the United States. Indeed, the Tennessee Constitution
in article X, Section 1 sets forth the applicable oath of office:
Every person who shall be chosen or appointed to any office of trust
or profit under this Constitution, or any law made in pursuance thereof,
shall, before entering on the duties thereof, take an oath to support the Constitution of this state, and of the United States, and an oath of office.
Note, that the oath does not include a duty to support the statutes
enacted by the Legislature without regard to their constitutionality.
Indeed, one of the empowering statutes addressing the duties of the
Attorney General expressly imposes a duty to defend the
constitutionality of state statutes unless the Attorney General believes
the statute is itself unconstitutional.
(9) To defend the constitutionality and validity of all legislation
of statewide applicability, except as provided in subdivision (b)(10),
enacted by the general assembly, except in those instances
where the attorney general and reporter is of the opinion that such
legislation is not constitutional, in which event the attorney general
and reporter shall so certify to the speaker of each house of the
general assembly;
Tenn. Code Ann § 8-6-109(b)(9)
Here, not only has the Attorney General defended the state statutes
in the trial court but his office now appeals the trial court’s ruling.
Serious questions remain, therefore, as to what part(s) of the trial
court’s ruling the Attorney General believes were so entirely misplaced
that a defense and now an appeal are warranted – particularly when several legislators have urged that no appeal be taken.
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| 2025 TFALAC Annual Event – Saturday, September 6, 2025
The 2025 TFALAC Annual Event is Saturday, September 6, 2025. It also will be the 30th Anniversary of the Tennessee Firearms Association!
Lt. General Michael Flynn will be the Keynote
Speaker this year.
The event includes guest speakers, a BBQ lunch, live auction, silent auction, vendor booths and more.
Event Sponsors
We are pleased to announce and thank the following Event
Sponsors who have already committed: - AJ
McCall is
a returning Event Sponsor. Mr. McCall is a principle at D. T. McCall and Sons which
has also signed up as one of our vendors.
- Congressman John Rose is another of
Tennessee’s Congressional team that is a regular TFA supporter, Event Sponsor
and prior speaker. Congressman Rose has also formally announced that he is
running for Governor in 2026.
- Rusty Oak Armory
is a long time TFA member and supporter. It is also a long time sponsor of the
TFALAC annual event and donates a custom built AR15 as the event’s auction “gun
of the year”. Rusty Oak Armory has also produced a custom line of its AR15
rifles and receivers that have serial numbers that start with “TFA….” and TFA’s
approved logo if you are in need of a new or additional AR15.
- WHMC Gun Shop
is returning as an event sponsor with donations of several custom firearms.
- Hickok45
has again joined TFALAC as a sponsor. As has been his generous tendency, he has
indicated that he will be donating at least one firearm that he has profiled in
one of his online videos.
If you are interested in a sponsorship for the 2025 annual event, please
contact John Harris (johnharris@tennesseefirearms.com).
Tier 1 Sponsor $20,000
Tier 2 Sponsor $15,000
Tier 3 Sponsor $10,000
Tier 4 Sponsor $5,000
Tickets, Tables, Vendors and Booths
Individual tickets ($100), Table Sponsors ($750), Event Sponsorships and Vendor packages are available on the TFALAC's Event page and going fast (we have already sold 24 Table Sponsors who are receiving priority placement).
You do not have to be a member of TFA to attend this event.
Auction Item Donations - TFALAC
welcomes donations of auction items.
TFALAC has a history of having a fine
assortment of firearms and other items as part of its auction package but we
also have had ammo, jewelry, gun safes, vacation trips, duck hunting packages,
and even car wash coupons. If you or your business are interested in making a
donation or providing auction items in exchange for promotional advertising,
please get in touch with johnharris@tennesseefirearms.com
soon.
You can join the Tennessee Firearms Association at join.tennesseefirearms.com
TFALAC is a Tennessee political action committee. Contributions to TFALAC are
not tax deductible as charitable contributions. TFALAC is affiliated with the
Tennessee Firearms Association, which is recognized by the IRS as a Section
501(c)(4) entity. |
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