Controversial gun bill lessening penalties for permit-less carry passes House
Jordan Buie
A controversial gun bill that would lessen the penalties for permit-less carry in Tennessee passed in the state House of Representatives 72-20 on Monday, after opposition from Democrats on the chamber floor and disapproval from mothers, teachers, a sheriff’s association and the governor’s office.
"In today’s society, where we are looking for society to make children safer, this bill is setting a poor example that this state is showing the nation," said Rep. Bo Mitchell, D- Nashville.
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On the opposite side of the debate, House Majority Leader Glen Casada, R-Franklin, argued, that the country has "a heart problem," not a gun problem.
Current law makes it a Class C misdemeanor to carry a handgun without a permit. Violators can be fined up to $500 and face possible imprisonment.
But the amended bill, sponsored by Rep. Micah Van Huss, R-Jonesborough, would only fine violators $250 on the first offense. A second amendment will allow officers to confiscate the ammunition of an offender, but not necessarily take the gun.
“I think it’s an important bill to be able to protect Tennesseans who are trying to protect their families, trying protect the evil we’ve all seen from last week,” Van Huss said when he presented his amended bill last in subcommittee. “The evil that’s out in the world.”'
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Opponents have argued such reduced penalties could encourage permit-less carry across the state and reduce the discretion of officers to confiscate weapons as a way to defuse a situation.
Supporters have focused on situations where law enforcement find individuals carrying a weapon by accident or when no other crime is being committed.
Most of the discussion in the House chamber came from Democrats. House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, and Mitchell questioned why the bill would reduce penalties for offenders carrying guns illegally, especially given the current national concerns about gun safety.
And Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Parkinson, asked amendment sponsor Rep. Bill Dunn-R-Knoxville, if a police officer would give a gang member back a gun after the gang member was found carrying illegally.
Dunn said his amendment only pertained to the ammunition.
But Bill sponsor Van Huss said most of the examples Democrats mentioned would not pertain because of previously passed laws, such as one that allows people in Tennessee to carry in cars without a permit.
"This will reduce one arrest per year," he said.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Senate.
Reach Reporter Jordan Buie at 615-726-5970 or by email at jbuie@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @jordanbuie.