Well, the Tennessee Legislature wrapped up it’s 2009 session last week. This was the first session in a loooooong time that didn’t have Jimmy Naifeh presiding (and single-handedly killing bills he didn’t like), so there was a lot of progress as far as gun rights legislation is concerned. This was also the first session where I was paying close attention votes, comittee hearings, etc.
In fact, there were so many gun-related bills this session it sometimes seemed that all the legislature was concerned with were guns and personal orders. The reason there were so many gun bills this session, of course, was because every bill that the former speaker had killed in the past was reintroduced.
So what was accomplished?
- Restaurant Carry
- State and Federal Park Carry
- Local Park Carry Option
- Carry in Wildlife Management Areas
- Protection of the Montlake Classic Clays Range
- Removal of thumbprint requirement when buying a firearm
- Carry Permit Holders may have a “loaded,” but not chambered, longarm in their vehicles
- The Dept. of Safety is now prohibited from asking for make, model, or serial number for firearms used in Handgun Safety Classes
- Prevention of firearm confiscation during martial law (a la New Orleans)
What didn’t we get (the big ones)?
- Permit Database Confidentiality
- Campus Carry
- Preventing employers from banning Carry Permit Holders from keeping their carry weapons locked in their cars on employer-owned property
Overall, I’m pretty happy. The biggest disappointment is that The Commercial Appeal still has its database, because some Senators voted “Present.” There is conflicting vote information on the Legislature’s website. We didn’t get confidentiality because we fell short by either one or three votes. Seventeen votes are required in the Senate for a bill to become law.
So now what? Well, I don’t really know. Like I said, this is the first year I really paid attention. I’ll continue to go to TFA Meetings, meet with legislators, and maybe start focusing more on the Nashville City Council (though they really seem like a lost cause).
My wish list for next year?
- Permit Database Confidentiality
- Campus Carry
- Civil Liability for Posted Properties (I’ll get to this one later this week)
Anyone else got anything they’d really like to see?
Wish List: Civil Liability for Posted Properties
Earlier this week I mentioned that Civil Liability for Posted Properties was on my wish list for 2010. I’d like to expand on that. In Tennessee, there is a provision that allows businesses and government entities “to prohibit the possession…