HB0962 Restaurant Carry

[djstarrider]

I see that this morning, HB0962 along with HB0959, HB0960, and HB0070 have been rolled over for a week. It seems that all the pending handgun legislation has been rolled for a week. Does anyone know why this was done?

[johnharris]

It was in the committee hearings and will be doing a TFALAC update in more detail.

At this point, the House Judiciary took this action on the following bills:

HB0411 (selling guns to prohibited persons) passed out of committee

HB0414 (inmate relations coordinators to carry guns the same as police) rolled one week. TFA OPPOSES THIS BILL AS ANOTHER "SPECIAL CLASS OF CITIZEN" BILL

HB0961 (handgun permits in Wildlife Management Areas) passed out with amendments concerning some WMA's that are closed and water fowl refugees

HB0070 (Protection of property) Rolled 1 week

HB0254 (Fingerprints on 4473's) Passed out

HB0716 (Handgun in state parks) Passed out

HB0962 (Carry in restaurants) rolled 1 week - this is the one with the 11pm cutoff and "age restricted" prohibition. TFA opposes these limits

HB0959 (Confidentiality of database) rolled 1 week



The House Criminal Practices Subcommittee later took the following action

HB0960 (state and local parks) - amendment deleted state parks, left in federal parks, and gave local government the option to completely ban possession in local and municipal parks. Passed to House Judiciary committee

HB0082 (allows current and retired judges to carry as if they are police) passed to Judiciary - TFA opposes this bill

HJR0032 - creates a joint study committee - passed to full committee

HB1292 - A 2nd confidentiality bill - rolled 4 weeks

HB1665 - Allows reserve police officers to carry off duty - TFA Opposes most "off duty" special privileges

HB0390 - Allows permit holders to transport (but not carry) loaded longarms - passed to full committee

HB0046 - Prohibits state agencies from requesting information about which firearms are owned by permit holders in the handgun permit courses - passed to full committee

[djstarrider]

[quote]HB0960 (state and local parks) - amendment deleted state parks, left in federal parks, and gave local government the option to completely ban possession in local and municipal parks. Passed to House Judiciary committee[/quote]

This is extremely unfortunate that an amendment of this sort was allowed to be added. Local government is not involved in issuing permits and that they are going to be allowed to decide who has the right of self defense in local parks is represensible. It is similar to each town having the right to determine that your drivers license is invalid because you haven't taken a special course that only they offer, or ticketing you for not having a local license.

Our Handgun Carry Permit is state issued and is recognized in over 30 other states with National Reciprocity in the works. I disagree with this amendment in the strongest way!

[johnharris]

As a grassroots organization, we either have to light up the phones and physical presence at the legislators' offices or we get what they want to give us. Its why its important that TFA reach out and grow as fast and reliably as possible. How many do we need? 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 - pick a number. There are 300,000+ permits that have been issued and certainly not all gun owners have permits.

[Pistology]

You do a commendable job, John, of informing us of legislative action.

To our legislators: remove restrictions to common sense self defense. The legislature should not deprive Tennesseans of restaurant carry or of the best means of self defense in a state park. These restrictions are already lifted in many states. The legislature needs to read the writing on the wall

[redbarron06]

Just out of curosity, where I know that there are several other bills having to do with firearms out there that I have not seen any action on. Bills such as the Tennessee firearms freedom act, banning of microstamping, and the bills that would make it illegal to gather firearm information when you do you permit training and make it illegal for the state to confiscate firearms in the even of an emergency?

[johnharris]

Not sure why the sponsors are not putting them on notice yet. However, the calendar for this coming week looks pretty busy.

[djstarrider]

Does anyone know when HB0962 will be coming to the floor for a vote?

I know TFA is opposed to the time restrictions in this bill, however it is a giant leap forward versus the status quo and I support this bill. I agree that a clean bill without the time and adult venue restrictions would be a much better bill, however I have serious doubts that a bill without these restrictions would have a snowballs chance of ever getting out of committee.

Perhaps it will be necessary to take some smaller steps toward our goal instead of demanding the whole 9 yards up front. We know we have support for this bill to pass, however even so I doubt that the Governor will sign it into law under any circumstances. With this bill's restrictions, we may have enough votes to override a veto. Shouldn't we take a stand that a clean bill would be better, but we will take this bill if we can get it?

[johnharris]

On a floor vote, we will have enough votes on a clean bill. We will have a pretty good chance of bringing it through the Senate with no baggage.

What is critical is that people be putting on the calling pressure to get these restrictions removed. If the calls are not there then they will think that there is no constituent opposition to the restrictions.

[djstarrider]

Calls are a daily thing around here since there are finally bills to support, LOL! I have also e-mailed each committee member more than once. Hopefully we can get the restrictions removed, however even this bill just made it out of the judiciary subcommittee by a single vote. The floor has not been the problem in the past, the LOUSY committees have been our stopping point.

Do you think that Bredesen will sign this into law?

[johnharris]

I have not heard anything one way or the other on Bredesen. However, with a large margin in both houses it is less likely to be received with a veto.

[djstarrider]

Ok, so we are on the table and session has adjourned, what is the hold-up on the bill? Are they considering removing the restrictions?

[johnharris]

Senate, last I heard, wants no restrictions.

House seems to be afraid of news media, restaurant organizations, news media, law enforcement, news media, chiefs of police (appointed whereas sheriffs are elected), news media, liberals, news media. We are up against financially powerful opponents.

We have the votes to pass restaurant carry but need phone calls, emails and hand shakes. Of course, if the NRA could mobilize its perceived masses in TN - it would be no contest......

[SomeGuy]

As I recall, back when Naifeh was speaker we almost got a clean restaurant carry to the floor. Any chance we could get those 60 or Reps to man back up? After all, they voted the right way once.

[johnharris]

I think best chance is if Senate stands firm and House adopts. If Senate waivers, we will end up with curfew and restrictions.

[djstarrider]

I have e-mailed each member of the House Leadership on the Republican and Democratic sides with the following letter. I suggest that each member of the TFA send a letter as well. You are free to copy this letter or write one of your own, but please write, call, get their attention. Here is the letter I sent...

"Dear Representative,

Please vote to pass HB0962 today WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS.

I am banned from protecting my family at numerous local restaurants and I am sure you are familiar with their names, Applebees, O'Charley's, Ruby Tuesday's etc. But, have you also considered that we are also unable to defend ourselves at restaurants such as Pizza Hut? Any business that offers beer for sale with dinner. Even in the parking lot at these restaurants.

Why am I banned from my right of self defense at the local Mall because one restaurant inside the mall serves beer with dinner?

Should I choose to dine at one of these fine local establishments, not only am I unable to defend myself while in the restaurant, I am unable to defend myself while traveling to and from dinner and each and every stop in between. The law states that I am not allowed to have my weapon ON THE PREMISES, and therefore I am not even allowed to leave the weapon in the car while dining. I may have to stop at a gas station on the way and we all know how dangerous convenience stores can be, they are a primary target of thugs after all.

It is preposterous that we have been denied the basic human right of self defense because we choose to eat a pizza, or a steak for dinner.

I understand that some of these restaurant owners may not wish to have patrons that are armed in their restaurant. They have a legal right to post the property as no weapons allowed under the current law and can do so at will already. They can make this decision for their business at any time they choose. They don't want to post their property as no weapons allowed because this is an advertisement to the bad guys that "No one can defend themselves here" and they know it!

The proposed amendment to HB0962 restricts my right of self defense between the hours of 11 PM and 5 AM and also at any "Age Restricted Venue". This is not acceptable. The Senate has passed a clean bill on three occasions and we need a clean bill to come out of the House as well. If I am at a restaurant and the clock ticks past 11 PM and I haven't finished dinner, I have to "LEAVE THE PREMISES" whether I have finished or not.

The bad guys have no restrictions, and they carry a firearm, knife, or any other type of prohibited weapons wherever they choose, whenever they choose.

Representative, we are the good guys in every community. We are your neighbors, friends, and family. We have taken upon ourselves a great responsibility and that is of our defense and the defense of our families and others. How many times must we hear on the news that a gunman has killed numerous victims and think to ourselves, "If only one of those victims had been armed, they could have stopped the killer"!

So many of the times, these killings are occurring in "Gun Free Zones". The criminals know where these areas are, they are our Restaurants, schools, our churches, our parks, our universities and the like. I urge you to consider your conscience and vote yes on HB0962 and remove the restrictive amendment that creates more named Gun Free Zones!

A NO vote will place the responsibility for the victims of the next shooting that occurs in a "Gun Free Zone" squarely on the shoulders of the Shooter, and the Legislators that enabled them to kill victims without fear of someone being able to defend themselves with a weapon.

With great respect,"

[djstarrider]

Is this correct???? Did we get the time limits removed in Amendment 2?

It states "Amendment No. 2 to HB0962
Kelsey
Signature of Sponsor
AMEND S e nate Bill No. 1127 House Bill No. 962*
HA0059
00542072
-1-
by deleting the language “or between the hours of eleven o’clock p.m. (11:00 p.m.) and five
o’clock a.m. (5:00 a.m.)” in the bill as amended by House Judiciary Committee Amendment No.

If this is so, we are part of the way there!

[David Lewis]

Excellent letter!

David

[rrc1962]

[johnharris]

House voted on last Thursday to "non-concur" with the Senate. That actually sends it back to the Senate to give it a chance, I believe, to strip the amendment which removed the restrictions. If the Senate holds firm, then I think it goes to conference. Any way you consider it, the problems are in the House even with perceived Republican control ......