NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The House has passed a bill to strip city and county governments of the power to ban guns in parks, playgrounds and sports fields.
The chamber voted 65-21 on Monday to pass the bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Mike Harrison of Rogersville. The measure would apply to the state's 500,000 handgun carry permit holders.
Democrats proposed 11 changes to the bill including efforts to opt certain counties out of the law, ban guns on Sundays and religious holidays and require referendums to undo local gun bans. All were defeated largely along partisan lines.
The Senate is scheduled to vote on its version on Wednesday.
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has said he has concerns about the bill, but hasn't said whether he would sign it into law.