Posted on 03/05/2020 4:32:55 AM PST by marktwain
Image from gun-nuttery, cropped by Dean Weingarten
Constitutional Carry continues to gain members. One to three states are likely to pass new laws in 2020.
Constitutional Carry is the return to a close approximation of the state of law in the United States when the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791. At that time there were no permits required to carry weapons in public places, either openly or concealed.
Concealed weapons were common and popular. Examples are knives, sword canes, and Queen Anne's or muff pistols. This state of law persisted in the United States for 30 years, until nearly all the founding fathers were dead.
The most likely state to pass a bill restoring Constitutional Carry in 2020 is Tennessee. Governor Bill Lee has publicly supported passing Constitutional Carry, as have the majority leaders in both the Senate and the House. A formal bill has yet to be submitted in the legislature.
Tennessee Firearms Association (TFA) has received a copy of an amendment said to be the heart of the proposed legislation.
The proposed legislation primarily creates an exception to existing law for either carrying a handgun, either openly or concealed. From TFA:
Section 1 of the proposed law does not alter TCA 39-17-1307(a) by removing the Class C misdemeanor it is still there. What this bill does is it creates a new subpart (g) that says this:
It is an exception to the application of subsection (a) that a person is carrying, whether openly or concealed, a handgun and:
(1) The person meets the qualifications for the issuance of an enhanced handgun carry permit under § 39-17-1351(b) and
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
Thanks much, Vaquero. Interesting info.
HOORAY Reid.
One of the days PATRIOTS will have nothing left to lose. I hope that day never comes.
READY - AIM - VOTE
Texas has been cursed with snakes in that position for a long time. The majority leader is elected with a coalition of RINOs and democrats. It is depressing.
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Not quite true. Your rights may be taken away while you are in prison. I believe that if a person being released from prison is too dangerous to be allowed to possess a firearm, then they should not be released.
Update from the TFA:
Some Legislators are responding positively to concerns from TFA members about Lees permitless carry bill.
Last week, Governor Bill Lee made a speech in which he referenced the 2nd Amendment, the Founding Fathers and the rights of the citizens. He said The Second Amendment is clear and concise and secures the freedoms of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. He told us he was introducing legislation that will protect the Second Amendment rights of Tennesseans .
About 4 days later, copies of the proposed bill started to be leaked from the Legislature and, surprise, it was not constitutional carry at all. It was nothing more than qualified exception to a potential Class A misdemeanor charge for carrying a firearm with intent to go armed in a place open to the public where 1 or more persons are present.
You read that correct! The Governor stated he was going to recognize and remove infringements on our rights but instead all his legislation does on that issue is create a technical, qualified, confusing exception to a criminal charge.
Our Founding Fathers did not write the 2nd Amendment in words that gave rise to a defense to a criminal charge. The Founding Fathers affirmatively wrote to recognize a right and to prohibit government from any infringement on that right.
As soon as TFA could obtain a copy of the bill it was immediately clear that the proposed amendment is not constitutional carry. TFA immediately started looking at how the bill might be amended as well as talking to specific legislators that we felt were in fact truly pro-2nd Amendment.
The good news is that there are ongoing constructive discussions taking place with specific House and Senate members about TFAs concerns over the Governors bill and how it can be improved. We are optimistic that these Legislators are not only listening to the validity of TFAs points and experience on both constitutional and state law but of equal importance that they are listening to their constituents many of whom are expressing their serious disapproval of the substance of the Governors bill.
It remains timely and important for each of you to be contacting your legislators and Governor Lee today and everyday until these serious constitutional flaws with his legislation are corrected.
You can look up your legislators on the Legislatures website.
You can contact the Governor by calling his office day and night at this number: (615) 741-2001
John Harris
Executive Director
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