The "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" theme music is playing ... week two
This year, most of the 2nd Amendment legislation was assigned to either the House Criminal Justice Committee or the House Civil Justice Committee. In the Senate, the bills were assigned to Senate Judiciary.
We continue to notice a troubling but distinct trend between the two House committees. Those bills which are going through the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, which is chaired by Rep. Clay Doggett, seem to have a much better chance of receiving positive debate, discussion and votes to keep them moving forward. Most of the ones which are being assigned to the House Civil Justice Subcommittee, which is chaired by Rep. Lowell Russell, have a much greater chance of dying in that committee.
The Civil Justice Subcommittee is dominated by House Republicans several of whom have claimed to be strong advocates for 2nd Amendment issues but only one, Rep. Bruce Griffey, seems to be "walking the walk" in that committee. Other House Republicans on that committee like Rep. Michael Curcio, Rep. Andy Farmer, and Rep. Johnny Garrett could be helping to push these bills forward but that does not seem to be occurring.
We heard this week that Rep. Curcio will not be seeking re-election. We are watching for similar announcements from others on these two subcommittees.
Finally, those of you who are in Speaker Sexton's district or have contact with him, please spend some time talking with him about these committees and ask that he, as speaker, address the members about the importance of moving 2nd Amendment legislation to the floor for floor votes rather than continuing to derail them through the coordination of only a handful of Republicans.
Legislative Calendar - Week of March 21, 2022
Several of the pro 2nd Amendment bills have already been derailed at least until 2023. There are several bills that are still possible for passage and some of these are on notice to be heard next week. All of these bills are listed in the attached PDF.
Here is what we are asking you to do:
1) Call your House and Senate members. Ask them to SUPPORT bills that we support. Some of these bills are highlighted in this message and others are listed in the attached PDF. To do that they should a) tell the bill sponsors that they want the legislation passed and b) sign on as co-sponsors. Follow up with phone calls every day or so to make sure they do it.
If it is a bill we are recommending to OPPOSE - call your members and insist that they contact both the sponsors and the committee members to demand that the bill be stopped. If you don't know who your legislators are, you can look it up on the state website. Email addresses for committee members are included in the attached PDF.
2) Contact by phone and email the members of the committee which are to hear these bills. You don't have to leave a long message or debate with them. Simply state that you are a concerned Tennessee citizen and TFA member. Tell them you SUPPORT (and want the bill passed into law) or you OPPOSE (and want the bill killed). Keep track of who you talk to and what their responses were.
3) Go to the TFA Facebook page and share not only your efforts but also the responses you received. Let's support those legislators who do the right things and lets REPLACE and EXPOSE the ones who do not.
SUPPORT:
HB2554 by Rep. Hurt is
set for Tuesday in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee at 9:00am.
Current law allows off duty law enforcement to carry in certain places
that enhanced permit holders are not allowed to carry. This bill would
allow enhanced permit holders to carry in the same locations that off
duty officers are allowed under this statute to carry. Note: We believe that there is opposition to this bill from one or more of the following House Republicans: Rep. Curcio, Rep. Farmer, Rep. Garrett and/or committee chair Rep. Russell. If you have the ability to contact these legislators, please do so and urge their support.
HB2521 by Rep. J. Sexton is
set for Tuesday in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee at 9:00am. This
bill will substantially improve Tennessee's "posting" laws. You can be
assured that Bill Lee's administration hates this legislation because
the "fiscal note" is projecting it would cost the state government about
$70 million a year to continue to impose non-statutory "gun free" zones
like Bill Lee has done with the state capitol. Please call your legislators and also the individual committee members to support this bill. Note: We are aware that an interest other than GOA and TFA is working this bill and trying to substantially dilute it to the point that neither GOA or TFA would continue to support the amendment.
SB2523 by Sen. Hensley is set for Tuesday
in the Senate Judiciary at 1:30 pm. Current law allows off duty law enforcement to carry in certain places
that enhanced permit holders are not allowed to carry. This bill would
allow enhanced permit holders to carry in the same locations that off
duty officers are allowed under this statute to carry.
SB2521 by Sen. Hensley is set for Tuesday
in the Senate Judiciary at 1:30 pm. This
bill will substantially improve Tennessee's "posting" laws. You can be
assured that Bill Lee's administration hates this legislation because
the "fiscal note" is projecting it would cost the state government about
$70 million a year to continue to impose non-statutory "gun free" zones
like Bill Lee has done with the state capitol. Please call your
legislators and also the individual committee members to support this
bill.
HB2524
by Rep. J. Sexton is set for Wednesday at 9:00am in the House Criminal
Justice subcommittee. It removes the offense of carrying a firearm with
the intent to go armed. If enacted, this is a major step toward true
constitutional carry. This bill is receiving substantial opposition from the spokesperson for the Department of Safety.
HB2323
by Rep. Grills is set for Wednesday at 9:00am in the House Criminal
Justice subcommittee. It
would clarify the definition of deadly force to exclude situations
where force is used to make a citizen's arrest. See also SB2638.
HB2777
by Rep. Todd is set for Wednesday at 9:00am in the House Criminal
Justice subcommittee. This bill would establish procedures in criminal investigations to require preservation by government investigators of evidence of justified use of force or self defense. It would also establish a procedure once criminal charges are filed to ask the trial court to rule on the self-defense issue in advance of a full jury trial.
HB1735
by Rep. Todd is set for Wednesday at 11:00am in the House Finance committee. This bill would allow those 18 and up and otherwise meets all statutory qualifications to apply for a handgun permit.
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OPPOSE:
HB2850 by Rep. Kumar is set for Tuesday in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee at 9:00am. It seeks to create a voucher program for firearms purchasers to obtaining training at taxpayer expense of about $2 million per year.
HB2599
by Rep. McKenzie is set for Tuesday in the House Health Subcommittee at
12:00 pm. This bill would treat "gun violence" as a public health
issue and require state funds to be expended to create reports designed
to support future gun control legislation in Tennessee.
SB2149 by Sen. Massey is set for Tuesday
in the Senate Judiciary at 1:30 pm. It seeks to create a
voucher program for firearms purchasers to obtaining training at
taxpayer expense of about $2 million per year.
SB1773 by Sen. Gilmore is
set for Tuesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1:30
p.m. and would have the Department of Health treat "gun violence" as a
health issue which is typically a predecessor move in a gun control
agenda.
HB1830 by Rep. Parkinson is
set for Wednesday in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee at 9:00
a.m. and would have the Department of Health treat "gun violence" as a
health issue which is typically a predecessor move in a gun control
agenda.
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TFALAC Annual Event
Finally,
the TFALAC (TFA’s political action committee) has set its annual BBQ
lunch and auction for Saturday, September 3, 2022 at the Farm Bureau
Expo Center in Wilson county, Tennessee. Please sign up as sponsors, vendors or purchase your tables and tickets. | 
