False News Reports
There are news reports and some press releases, primarily from law enforcement agencies, claiming that SB2523/HB2554 seeks to "recognize some handgun owners as police". This is not just incompetent reporting but it is simply false, or intentionally misleading reporting.
There
is a law already on the books in Tennessee TCA 39-17-1350, which is the
subject of this bill, that addresses one issue and that is the capacity
of OFF DUTY law enforcement officers to carry in certain gun free
zones. Keep in mind, Tennessee's supreme court has said that OFF DUTY
law enforcement are not some category of super citizen, they are simply
citizens like everyone else. They have the right to defend their lives
and they have arrest powers (if they opt to use them) BUT citizens also
have statutory arrest powers in Tennessee! Off duty law enforcement have no legal duty to defend you, to save your life or to make an arrest - any more than any other citizen.
This bill says that those civilians who have the ENHANCED PERMIT would
be entitled to the same exceptions relative to gun free zones as are OFF
DUTY officers.
The bill DOES NOT make citizens law enforcement
officers, off duty officers or government officials. All it does is
provide that if an off duty officer can carry in a gun free
zone then so can an enhanced permit holder.
The news agencies that are reporting otherwise are reporting - incompetently or intentionally - false, fake, and misleading news... or where I come from ... lies.
If your sheriff, if your FOP, if the TN Sheriffs Association or the Chiefs of Police Association raise a single word in opposition to this legislation - legislation which is designed to treat all "off duty" civilians equally in terms of exercising the right of self-defense - then remember that they next time that they ask for donations or your vote. Call them now and tell them you are watching, you are listening and that you are demanding their SUPPORT on this bill.
Legislative Calendar - Week of February 28
There are 11 committee hearings the week of February 28 that will take up various tracked bills in the House or Senate. Several of these are instances where your calls and support or opposition need to be made. All of these bills are listed in the attached PDF. Talking points are in the 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. 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:
HB2770 by Todd is set for Tuesday in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee at 9:00am. This bill would impose "custodial responsibility" on those businesses and other locations that opt to declare their properties "gun free" zones.
HB1898 by Grills is
set for Tuesday in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee at 9:00am. This
bill would convert the existing enhanced and concealed only handgun
permits to "firearms" permits. The 2nd Amendment does not limit itself
to handguns and no such limitation under existing Tennessee law to
handguns only is constitutionally sound under the "shall not be
infringed" mandate.
HB1735 by Todd is set for Wednesday at 12:30pm in the House Civil Justice Committee. This bill as amended
would allow all Tennesseans 18 and up meet the qualifications for a
handgun permit or for the 2021 "permitless carry" law to defend their
own lives and families.
OPPOSE:
HB2724 by Rep. Miller is
set for Tuesday in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee at 9:00am. This
bill would repeal parts of Tennessee's permitless vehicle transport law which, at present, is the only means to legally transport a longarm if there is ammo in it or in the vicinity of it.
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.
SB1773 by Rep. Gilmore is set for Tuesday in the Senate Judiciary at 3:00 p.m. This is a gun control agenda bill that seeks to reduce gun violence in communities. It also seeks to classify gun violence as a public health issue for gun control purposes.
HB2087 by Rep. White is set for Wednesday in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee at 9:00 a.m. and seeks to make it a criminal offense of someone to store a firearm in a personal vehicle.
HB1588 by Rep. Camper is et for Wednesday in the House Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee. This bill seeks to create a "RED FLAG" law in Tennessee.
TFA and GOA Lobby Day - March 16
Join
GOA-TN and Tennessee Firearms Association in Nashville on March 16, 2022! It is important for you to register now so that we can plan resources for the event. If you are interested in attending but would also be interested in potentially carpooling or even arranging for a bus, please contact GOA's new state director, Jo Staats at jo.staats@gunowners.org about contacting other interested attendees in your area or the potential for bus transportation.
There
is no better way to let our elected representatives know how to best represent
us than showing up and having conversations. Plan to attend the 2022 Gun Owners
Lobby Day to hear from representatives across the state and meet personally
with your representatives!
TFA
is joining with Gun Owners of America again this year to bring Gun Owners Lobby
Day to Tennesseans statewide. Our Lobby Day event is just the beginning! Don’t
miss your opportunity to connect with fellow Second Amendment supporters and
lawmakers combined. Click the “Register” button below the picture and follow GOA-TN and Tennessee Firearms Association on Facebook for exciting
announcements as plans develop!
Details
Date:
March 16
Cost:
Free
TFALAC 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. |
