This is a BIG week for firearm legislation!

These are the bills we are following this week. All are scheduled for committee votes. Please read through them and contact the members of the committees voting on them. Let legislators know how you want them to vote by sending a quick email or phone call (you can even leave a voicemail after hours). When referencing a bill, please remember to refer to the bill number. You are also encouraged to come to the hearings. They are all held in the Cordell Hull Building located at 425 5th Avenue North in downtown Nashville.

HB1224/SB1025, our domestic violence legislation, will be before both the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Constitutions and Sentencing Subcommittee this week. The bill is very straight-forward and will cost the state nothing to implement. It will help to protect domestic violence victims and their families by creating much needed accountability for third parties who take possession of domestic violence offenders firearms. If possible, please consider sending individual, personalized emails to committee members. Contact information for the two committees can be found in the links above.
You can contact members of both committees using our Advocacy Action page.

There are several VERY important domestic violence-firearm bills up this week.

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Senate Judiciary Committee | Tuesday March 26th at 3:00 | SHR I

SB1025 by Yarbro
HB1224 by Potts
Dispossession and Third Party Accountability — SUPPORT —
As introduced, requires the court to order that a defendant convicted of domestic violence who transfers possession of firearms to a third party must have the third party complete and return to the court an affidavit certifying that the third party is not prohibited from possessing firearms, acknowledges receipt of firearms from the defendant, and accepts their responsibility under this section.
— Safe Tennessee Project bill —
Use our Advocacy Action page to easily contact all committee members with just a few clicks.

SB0865 by Bowling
HB1447 by Moody
Domestic Violence Offender Permit Surrender — SUPPORT —
As introduced, requires a handgun carry permit holder convicted of domestic assault to surrender the permit to the court within 48 hours of conviction to be forwarded to the department of safety for revocation.
Use our Advocacy Action Page to easily contact all committee members with just a few clicks

SB1178 by Dickerson
HB1446 by DeBerry
Red Flag Law — SUPPORT —
As introduced, allows a law enforcement officer or person who has a relationship with the respondent to petition a court for the issuance of an extreme risk protection order based on clear and convincing evidence that the respondent poses a significant risk of causing personal injury to the respondent or others by possessing a firearm.

SB1341 by Massey
HB1295 by Farmer
Eliminates Firearm Dispossession Form — OPPOSE —
As introduced, requires the domestic violence coordinating council, in coordination with the administrative office of the courts, to revise the affidavit of firearms dispossession form to require only a signature from a defendant convicted of domestic violence. ** This bill would get rid of a firearm dispossession procedure and form that convicted domestic violence offenders currently complete after they have dispossessed their firearms following conviction.**
Use our Advocacy Action Page to easily contact all committee members with just a few clicks

Please contact Senate Judiciary Committee Members and urge them to SUPPORT SB1025, SB865, and SB1178 - and to OPPOSE SB1341.

Sen. Mike Bell – CHAIR Phone: (615) 741-1946 [email protected]	Sen. Janice Bowling Phone: 615-741-6694 [email protected]	Sen. Kerry Roberts Phone: (615) 741-4499 [email protected]
Sen. Jon Lundberg Phone: (615) 741-5761 [email protected]	Sen. Todd Gardenhire Phone: (615) 741-6682 [email protected]	Sen. Katrina Robinson Phone: (615) 741-2509 [email protected]
Sen. Dawn White Phone (615) 741-6853 [email protected]	Sen. Sara Kyle Phone (615) 741-4167 [email protected]	Sen. John Stevens Phone: (615) 741-4576 [email protected]

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House Constitutional Protections and Sentencing Subcommittee | Wednesday March 27th at 8:45 | HHR II

HB1224 by Potts
SB1025 by Yarbro
Dispossession and Third Party Accountability — SUPPORT —
As introduced, requires the court to order that a defendant convicted of domestic violence who transfers possession of firearms to a third party must have the third party complete and return to the court an affidavit certifying that the third party is not prohibited from possessing firearms, acknowledges receipt of firearms from the defendant, and accepts their responsibility under this section.
— Safe Tennessee Project bill —
Use our Advocacy Action page to easily contact all committee members with just a few clicks.

HB1428 by Stewart
SB1011 by Gilmore
Make it illegal to transfer firearms to someone prohibited from possessing — SUPPORT —
As introduced, creates the Class A misdemeanor offense of illegal transfer of a firearm to a prohibited possessor; prohibits the intentional transfer to a person who is known or should be known to be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm. ** It is currently NOT illegal to transfer a firearm to a person known to be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm. This bill would close this dangerous loophole. **

HB1427 by Stewart
SB1010 by Gilmore
Expands background checks to all gun purchases — SUPPORT —
As introduced, requires, when neither the seller nor purchaser of a firearm is a licensed gun dealer that the transaction be completed through a licensed gun dealer, and that the dealer perform the same background check required for purchases from licensed gun dealers.
— Safe Tennessee Project bill —

HB1476 by Hardaway
SB1312 by Kyle
Child Access Prevention - Vehicles and Boats - SUPPORT
As introduced, creates a Class A misdemeanor of leaving a firearm or ammunition in a motor vehicle or boat without the firearm or ammunition being stored in a locked cabinet, safe, vault, case, or secured with a firearm locking device if the vehicle or boat is left unattended or with a person under 18 years of age; directs fines collected be deposited in the criminal injuries compensation fund and the domestic violence community education fund.

HB0409 by Griffey
SB1275 by Pody
Strengthens Stand Your Ground — OPPOSE —
As introduced, confers criminal and civil immunity upon a person who uses or threatens force in self-defense, defense of another, or defense from a person committing a criminal offense, unless the person against whom force is used is a law enforcement officer during discharge of the officer’s duties and the person knows the person is an officer.

Please contact House Constitutional Protections and Sentencing Subcommittee Members and urge them to SUPPORT HB1224, HB1428, HB1476 - and to OPPOSE HB409.

Rep. Micah VanHuss, Chair Phone (615) 741-1717 [email protected]	Rep. Bruce Griffey Phone (615) 741-6804 [email protected]
Rep. Michael Curcio Phone: (615) 741-3513 [email protected]	Rep. Bo Mitchell Phone: (615) 741-4317 [email protected]
Rep. Rick Eldridge Phone: (615) 741-6877 [email protected]	Rep. Bill Sanderson Phone: (615) 741-0718 [email protected]
Rep. Paul Sherrell Phone (615) 741-1963 [email protected]

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House Judiciary Committee | Wednesday March 27th at 8:00 | HHR I

SB1401 by Bell
HB0545 by Boyd
No Punishments For Carrying Gun Where Prohibited — OPPOSE —
As introduced, increases from 21 to 30 the number of calendar days within which a person granted an order of protection may apply for a temporary handgun carry permit from the department of safety after an order of protection has been granted. *AN AMENDMENT WAS ADDED TO THE BILL THAT REWRITES IT - THE AMENDMENT SAYS THAT A PERMIT HOLDER CARRYING A GUN IN A PLACE THAT PROHIBITS THEM CAN SIMPLY BE ASKED TO LEAVE AND NOT FACE ANY CONSEQUENCES. In committee hearings, the sponsor admitted that he is aware of no instances of this law ever being enforced. In other words, this legislation is a solution seeking a problem and will likely lead to people knowingly ignoring posted signs because they know there is no penalty.

Rep. Michael Curcio, Chair Phone: (615) 741-3513 [email protected]	Rep. Jeremy Faison Phone (615) 741-6871 [email protected]	Rep. Bo Mitchell Phone: (615) 741-4317 [email protected]
Rep. Johnny Garrett Phone: (615) 741-3893 [email protected]	Rep. Andrew Farmer Phone: (615) 741-4419 [email protected]	Rep. Brandon Ogles Phone: (615) 741-6408 [email protected]
Rep. Bill Beck Phone: (615) 741-3229 [email protected]	Rep. Bruce Griffey Phone (615) 741-6804 [email protected]	Rep. Antonio Parkinson Phone: (615) 741-4575 [email protected]
Rep. Karen D. Camper Phone: (615) 741-1898 [email protected]	Rep. Dan Howell Phone: (615) 741-7799 [email protected]	Rep. Jason Potts Phone: (615) 741-2043 [email protected]
Rep. Mike Carter Phone: (615) 741-3025 [email protected]	Rep. Bud Hulsey Phone: (615) 741-2886 [email protected]	Rep. Iris Rudder Phone: (615) 741-8695 [email protected]
Rep. Martin Daniel Phone: (615) 741-2287 [email protected]	Rep. Curtis Johnson Phone: (615) 741-4341 [email protected]	Rep. Bill Sanderson Phone: (615) 741-0718 [email protected]
Rep. Clay Doggett Phone: (615) 741-7476 [email protected]	Rep. William Lamberth Phone: (615) 741-1980 [email protected]	Rep. Paul Sherrell Phone (615) 741-1963 [email protected]
Rep. Rick Eldridge Phone: (615) 741-6877 [email protected]	Rep. Mary Littleton Phone: (615) 741-7477 [email protected]	Rep. Joe Towns Phone: (615) 741-2189 [email protected]
Rep. Micah VanHuss Phone (615) 741-1717 [email protected]