Does Tennessee Already Have Permitless Firearms Carry, & Not Know It?

There have been numerous bills introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly in recent years designed to restore Constitutional/Permitless Carry in Tennessee. Dean Weingarten recently reported in Ammoland on the virus shutdown jeopardizing the 2020 effort. So far, these bills have never made it out of committee, in spite of having a Republican Super-majority since the 2012 election. 

Read more in my column at Ammoland.

Marion hammers dissidents

Marion Hammer, former president and ye olde guarde leader, takes dissenters to task at the NRA.

She says, "Those who didn’t get an assignment might want to consider whether or not they want to help us save the Second Amendment or continue on a course detrimental to NRA and our mission. "

Read John Richardson's commentary and Hammer's full diatribe HERE.

I will comment only on the statement quoted above. The way it is written as an either/or statement implies that if you are not with them, you do not support the 2A.

To the contrary, I want to restore the 2A as originally intended. Not retreat while feigning victory.

No red flag laws
No more bans
Yes national reciprocity

Marion, NRA will change. Either self directed, or imposed from outside.

Crickets

On March 25, I sent the email below to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. To date I have not heard back from him. I have a feeling that I shouldn't hold my breath.

If I do hear back from him, I will post his reply.

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Dear Governor Lee,

You have been quoted on NPR (http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/tennessees-next-governor-wide-support-keeping-states-handgun-carry-permit-requirement#stream/0) "I don't (support Constitutional Carry). 

Elsewhere, you state " I am committed to eliminating the carry permit fee for gun-owners, because no one should have to pay a tax for exercising their constitutional rights." (https://www.billlee.com/our-tennessee-values/ (now a dead link)). This would imply a permit at no charge. 

On another page, you state "Constitutional Carry - - You shouldn’t have to pay a fee to exercise your constitutional rights. I’d work with the legislature on any proposal where we can expand your constitutional rights, and I’ll sign legislation to make it happen."

But a question is, will state employees, such as THP officers continue to appear in committee meetings and testify against Constitutional Carry?

You have also been quoted as clearly saying you "would sign constitutional carry" in Loudon.

For the record, I heard (former) Governor Haslam promise a TFA group I attended that he would sign CC, and I have seen the video where he promised the same to another TFA group. Yet his minions worked diligently in committee meetings to assure the legislation never reached his desk, thus allowing him to keep his promise.

When will you begin to work for passage of Constitutional Carry.

I will post your answer on my website: http://www.goodhillpress.com/

Respectfully,

Liston Matthews

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Kentucky passes permitless carry; Tennessee still tarries

Governor Matt Bevin has signed permit-less carry (AKA Constitutional Carry) into law in Kentucky. This brings to sixteen the number of states that have done so.

Boundary marker between Tennessee and Kentucky
Liston Matthews photo

What does this mean. I read the bill, and it appears that anyone who may legally own a firearm may legally carry a firearm in Kentucky. So, if you are on the other (North) side of the boundary stone pictured, the Second Amendment is your carry permit. according to WKYT, the law becomes effective June 26. 2019.

On the other hand, if you are on this side of that big rock, you  are in Tennessee,