Tennessee Bill To Allow Open Carry Without A Permit
BY Herschel Smith
7 years, 10 months ago
A Tennessee lawmaker is hoping to loosen Tennessee’s gun carry laws.
State Rep. Micah Van Huss, a Republican from Jonesborough, has introduced a bill to eliminate the need for a permit to open carry a handgun.
Under the law, you would still need a permit to carry a concealed handgun, but if you wear the gun openly, you would not need a permit.
House Bill 40 would amend the state’s weapon laws for open carry to bring Tennessee in line with several other states.
Several lawmakers who spoke with Tri-Cities NBC-affiliate WCYB said they support the proposal.
“Tennessee has eight bordering states, I think seven of them allow what’s called open carry,” said state Senator Jon Lundberg, for Tennessee’s 1st District. “Has it changed the dynamics in Virginia and North Carolina, not really.”
The bill has been introduced twice and was rejected both times. If approved, Tennessee would join the other 29 states that don’t require these permits.
“This is one that people are passionate about, they’re either for it very strongly or against it very strongly,” said Lundberg. “So you will see those kind of passions come out this time around.”
Right now, the bill is still in the early stages and doesn’t have a senate sponsor yet.
Well, it needs a sponsor, and it needs to be passed this time around. Frankly, I thought that Tennessee was already a gold star open carry state like my own state of North Carolina.
Tennessee needs to join the ranks of states that recognize God-given rights like this one. Anyway, Tennessee can show the way to Texans, who have permitted open carry, and who are flirting with constitutional carry if only the awful Lieutenant Governor will get out of the way.
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On January 23, 2017 at 10:38 am, Fred said:
Background info:
I was open carrying last night. TN is an Open Carry, with a permit, state. The carry permit covers both open and concealed. So, it would appear, that this is constitutional carry if you open carry. This makes the most sense, from a traditional American, moral perspective, it being sneaky to hide your gun. TN is a traditional concealed carry state although open carry is legal it is rare ’round these parts. The people are so friendly here that I have never understood, since moving here, why we have the tradition of sneaking around with our guns. To me it has always seemed counter to the nature of the folks here.
Every time I have open carried exactly ZERO people have cared.
Also, I’m not against the incrementalism of the approach by Rep. Micah Van Hus. I have already started drafting a note of this effect, to him. I think once there is a lack blood in streets with open carry then full constitutional may be more approachable.
Ps. I know all of this is immoral before a holy and just God. This is my political perspective.