First, I know this will make you furious but it is something you need to know. This week, David Rausch, the director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, appeared in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee to oppose, on behalf of the Governor (his boss), House Bill 1005 by Rusty Grills which would make 2nd Amendment required changes to Tennessee law such as reducing the age limit for lawful carry to 18 and allowing citizens to carry longarms. Appearing in opposition to that legislation was Direct Rausch and well as Commissioner Jeff Long who oversees for Bill Lee the Tennessee Department of Safety.
During that hearing, Rep. Gino Bulso had about a 10 minute discussion (
TFA Video) with Director Rausch, during which Rep. Bulso simply wanted Rausch to acknowledge that if the 2nd Amendment protected civilian ownership of firearms, including handguns and longarms, that the Legislature was required constitutionally to honor that right and to keep from infringing it, which would include repealing current infringements. Amazingly, Director Rausch would not admit that the 2nd Amendment, even under the Supreme Court's decisions including
New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, that citizens have a right to possess modern firearms in public. Director Rausch argued that the 2nd Amendment only protected "muskets" and that if the Legislature wanted to let citizens carry muskets in public that might be ok under the 2nd Amendment - but not modern firearms.
That is why your involvement is critical. Bill Lee's administration - all taxpayer funded - are intentionally and actively, while being paid salaries by taxpayers, are actively lobbying the Legislature to ignore the clear scope of the 2nd Amendment and to disregard the clear holdings of the United States Supreme Court relative to the breadth of the 2nd Amendment's prohibitions.
These bills will be in the House and Senate Committees again the week of March 13. We already expect strong opposition in the Senate Judiciary, perhaps directly in submission to the direct or indirect
directions from Lt. Gov. Randy McNally.
It is critical that you stand up and contact these committee members with your demands that they pass these bills this year.
As bad as the video above, if you have not seen the
video
of representatives from the Tennessee Department of Safety or the
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation recently going into a House committee
hearing to tell your elected Representatives that “they” – on behalf of
Bill Lee and his administration – oppose enacting constitutional carry
you should take a minute and watch the video. We don't mean to ruin your day, but the combination of these two videos would have sent the Founding Fathers into war long before now - and perhaps they will encourage you to take action by contacting your House and Senate members.
Use the TFA's
advocacy tool to contact these committee members before March 7, 2023 - it is that critical!
