***UPDATE 3/26/2015***
Bill failed in committee. Moms Demand Action spoke in opposition, Gov Haslam withdrew support. TBI opposes the sale of any firearm without a background check and proper training.  TDSHS uniformed trooper opposed the legislation. Tennessee Sherriff's association opposed the legislation due to being able to carry without a background check.

We have a lot of work to do convincing our freaking LE organizations, get on it!

Special note about Nashville Democrat Sherry Jones:  What a fucking DUMBASS!

Thanks for calling and writing.  Try again next year.

Video to committee hearing:

http://tnga.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=278&clip_id=10499&meta_id=199990

***UPDATE 3/25/2015***

Just an FYI to anyone that might care.  HB0535 is set for the Civil Justice Subcommittee this afternoon.  It has gained more co-sponsors since my last update.


***UPDATE 2/19/2015***

HB0535 has been passed on second consideration and assigned to the Civil Justice Sub committee.  The committee has 9 members total, only 2 are Democrats.

SB0780 has been passed on second consideration and assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committe.  The committee has 9 members total, only 2 are Democrats.


Things are moving along very will for this legislation folks.  If you support the legislation, AND YOU SHOULD, please take the time to email anyone on the committee who is your legislator, and also the committee leadership.

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/committees/civil-justice.html
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/committees/judiciary.html

Find your legislators here:
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislators/


***UPDATE*** (THIS IS OLDER INFORMATION, MOST RECENT UPDATE ON TOP)
HB0535 now has a State Senate Counterpart SB0780!!  The Senate bill has passed on first consideration.  


Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, permits a person who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm to possess a firearm, openly or concealed, regardless of whether the person has a handgun permit. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13 and Title 70.  

Filed for intro 02/10/2015.  

If you don't know who to write:

Follow this link:  http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislators/

Put your home address in the boxes on the right and click search.

Write, call, and/or email your Representative and Senator urging them to support this bill.

My letter:

Support and pass this bill.



HB0535

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, permits a person who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm to possess a firearm, openly or concealed, regardless of whether the person has a handgun permit. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13 and Title 70.


A permission slip from the State to have the ability to protect oneself should not be required.  Many states already allow Constitutional Carry or unpermitted possession of a firearm open or concealed.  The citizens of the State of Tennessee deserve to exercise their Second Amendment right without paying or seeking permission.



Thank you,

So I guess that makes my permit then useless?
Unless I travel out of state.

Other states will then take notice and no longer honor my permit?

Not trolling, being dead serious.

What happens to the lost permit revenue?

I don't see it as getting rid of the permit. It still states "regardless of whether the person has a handgun permit".  In my view it simply allows you to carry OC or CC if you don't have an HCP.  

If I'm wrong and you are right, I'll be glad to listen and send a new letter to my reps.

As far as "lost revenue", IDGAF.

TN will lose the revenue from the gun permit process and they will see it hit the bottom line.

 
Where will they make up the lost revenue at is the question.



Bigger tax on guns/ammo. Only a matter of time before they decide to do something.



As it is right now, a person has to have a permit to carry outside their home/property/car.
They pay for the permit.

I'm sorry I don't concern myself with the state's coffers.  I expect them to find a way to live within their means instead of trying to replace every drop of revenue "lost".

As far as this bill goes here's a link to the PDF.  I'll be glad to listen to those smarter than me. But I want Constitutional Carry to be legal even if I have an HCP.

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/109/Bill/HB0535.pdf

Agreed 100%.

 


They are already talking about raising the gas tax.


I wouldnt put it past them to tax us to make the difference up.
 

After reading the PDF it looks to me like it lowers the cost of the HCP to $50.  So the HCP stays, but it costs less.  

I'm sure legislators will want to make up the revenue somewhere, and squeeze some more juice from the lime.

 
So the renewal fee stays the same? I cant find that part.
Correct on the squeeze, except blood from a stone.
Yet they still get blood.

Well that seems to just replace everything.

I changes alot.  From what I can understand it makes constitutional carry OC/CC legal without a permit for residents and non-residents who aren't otherwise prohibited.  It lowers the cost of the permit.  It removes firearms from the "intent to go armed" language.  I'm not 100% on what the language change does WRT the paragraph on businesses and schools. I didn't see anything that sets off alarms, and based on the rest of the bill I'm pretty sure that whatever changes it makes are better.

I look forward to someone with more legal knowledge than myself to break it all down, but as I understand it now I am urging my reps to support it.

The bill replaces TCA 39-17-1351 (p) lowering the application/processing fee to $50.  The renewal fee is located in (q) and will remain $50.

No reason to think other states would change their recognition of the TN permit. Of the what, 5 states that now have total constitutional open and concealed carry, only VT does not also issue an optional permit.

- OS

There's a lot of good stuff on the list for this year.

rough summary:

no background checks required if you hold a valid HCP, no HCP renewal fee for honorably discharged veterans, HCP holders being able to carry like an off-duty officer.

PASS THEM ALL!!!  

Posted an update in the OP.

UPDATE:

HB0535 has been passed on second consideration and assigned to the Civil Justice Sub committee.  The committee has 9 members total, only 2 are Democrats.

SB0780 has been passed on second consideration and assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committe.  The committee has 9 members total, only 2 are Democrats.


Things are moving along very will for this legislation folks.  If you support the legislation, AND YOU SHOULD, please take the time to email anyone on the committee who is your legislator, and also the committee leadership.

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/committees/civil-justice.html
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/committees/judiciary.html

Find your legislators here:
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislators/

Just an FYI to anyone that might care.  HB0535 is set for the Civil Justice Subcommittee this afternoon.  It has gained more co-sponsors since my last update.

Bill failed in committee. Moms Demand Action spoke in opposition, Gov Haslam withdrew support.

Thanks for calling and writing.  Try again next year.

Video to committee hearing:

http://tnga.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=278&clip_id=10499&meta_id=199990

Damn,  thanks for covering this.  

Moms Demand Action sounds like a porn title.