NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT/TNS) -- Count East Tennessee State University Police Chief Jack Cotrel among those not happy with efforts by State Lawmakers to allow more guns on campuses.
Last year State Legislators passed a law allowing full-time college faculty and staff to carry handguns with proper permitting. This session lawmakers are hoping to expand on that law.
The move has Chief Cotrel worried.
"How are my officers supposed to discern who the bad guy is? Because the way it is right now, if we go in a building after 'an active shooter' and we see someone with a gun, they're going down."
Legislators are considering about a dozen bills that would liberalize Tennessee gun laws. A partial list of those bills is included below:
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, amends various firearms provisions, including changes to firearms on school property, open or concealed carrying of a firearm, handgun carry permits, and posted firearms prohibitions. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13; Title 49 and Title 70. | HB0493: Assigned to s/c Civil Justice SubcommitteeSB0131: Sponsor(s) Added. | 2/14/2017 02/09/2017 | |
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, reduces the penalty for the offense of carrying a handgun without a permit and with the intent to go armed to a Class C misdemeanor with a $25 fine for a first offense or $50 for a second or subsequent offense and requires a citation to be issued in lieu of arrest. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13 and Title 40. | HB1176: Assigned to s/c Civil Justice SubcommitteeSB0339: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee | 2/15/2017 02/08/2017 | |
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, requires, subject to certain exemptions, a sale or transfer of a firearm to be done through a federally licensed gun dealer; creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for sales or transfers that are not conducted through a gun dealer. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13. | HB1319: Assigned to s/c Civil Justice SubcommitteeSB1097: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee | 2/15/2017 02/13/2017 | |
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, amends various firearms provisions, including changes to firearms on school property, open or concealed carrying of a firearm, handgun carry permits, and posted firearms prohibitions. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13; Title 49 and Title 70. | SB0131: Sponsor(s) Added.HB0493: Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee | 2/9/2017 02/14/2017 | |
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "Open Carry Firearms Freedom Act." - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7; Title 33; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 70. | SB0147: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary CommitteeHB0040: Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/1/2017 | 2/1/2017 02/22/2017 | |
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, reduces the penalty for the offense of carrying a handgun without a permit and with the intent to go armed to a Class C misdemeanor with a $25 fine for a first offense or $50 for a second or subsequent offense and requires a citation to be issued in lieu of arrest. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13 and Title 40. | SB0339: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary CommitteeHB1176: Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee | 2/8/2017 02/15/2017 | |
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, permits the use of certain defenses to unlawful possession or carrying of a weapon by a person with a prior conviction for a felony involving the use of force, violence, deadly weapon, or drugs if the person's rights of citizenship have been restored. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1308 and Title 40, Chapter 29, Part 1. | SB0386: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary CommitteeHB0367: Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee | 2/8/2017 02/07/2017 | |
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, requires, subject to certain exemptions, a sale or transfer of a firearm to be done through a federally licensed gun dealer; creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for sales or transfers that are not conducted through a gun dealer. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13. | SB1097: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary CommitteeHB1319: Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee | 2/13/2017 02/15/2017 | |
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, requires one-half of every handgun carry permit fee to be annually donated to one or more nonprofit organizations established for the purpose of providing financial assistance to families of police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical staff who lost lives or are victims of serious and disabling injury in the line of duty. - Amends TCA Title 39. | HB0048: Assigned to s/c Civil Justice SubcommitteeSB0308: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee | 2/1/2017 02/06/2017 | |
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, requires one-half of every handgun carry permit fee to be annually donated to one or more nonprofit organizations established for the purpose of providing financial assistance to families of police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical staff who lost lives or are victims of serious and disabling injury in the line of duty. - Amends TCA Title 39. | |||