Tennessee's Senate Judiciary passes bill to allow permitless carry of handguns

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Tennessee's Senate Judiciary voted to pass a bill that would allow for permitless carry of a handgun in Tennessee. What is commonly called constitutional carry is already legal in 12 states with Tennessee potentially becoming number 13.

The controversial bill passed on a 7-2 party line vote. Both the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Sheriff's Association opposed the bill.

Governor Bill Lee has supported removing the permitting and training process for getting a gun for over two years. Last year, the pandemic kept the legislature from passing the bill, but it passed a House Judiciary Committee last May.

"We're concerned about not requiring individuals to have training before they're able to legally carry a firearm," said Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings in that May 2020 hearing. Rallings said he did not support the bill because he felt it would make his city less safe.