Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
After being passed by the Senate earlier this week, a bill which would ensure tenants are guaranteed the same Second Amendment rights as homeowners in Tennessee cleared the House Business & Utilities Subcommittee on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
HB0469 states that landlords cannot prohibit a tenant from lawfully possessing, carrying, transporting, or storing firearms or ammunition in their rented residence, vehicle, or points of access to the residence or vehicle.
During the subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, bill sponsor Rep. Lee Reeves explained an amendment to the bill which alters it from the Senate counterpart. Under the amendment, the legislation would apply to leases beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and only to leases for residential properties unlike the Senate’s SB0350 which included commercial leases.
And though both bills share some exclusions to the proposed law like the Department of Children’s Services (DCS), mental health facilities, state agency premises, and school property, the House amendment also specifically includes hospitals, nursing homes, assisted care facilities, and certain independent living facilities.
“At its core, this bill recognizes that a leased dwelling unit is someone’s home. A renter should not have fewer rights of lawful self-defense inside their home than someone who owns,” Reeves stated.
There were questions from both Republicans and Democrats on the subcommittee regarding Second Amendment rights versus property rights and whether the legislature is permitted to ask property owners to surrender their ability to decide if they want firearms on the premises in favor of a renter’s right to defend themselves, their families, and their homes.
Two witnesses spoke in favor of the bill, Britt Winston, Tennessee Director for Women for Gun Rights, and owner of She Shoots Training Kristin Pressburg who trains women in firearms and personal safety.
Winston advocated that the right to bear arms in the home for the protection of one’s family was never meant to be restricted to only those wealthy enough to own property.
Speaking from her personal experience with this scenario, Pressburg spoke to the importance of empowering female renters who are divorced and often have children and a potentially dangerous ex who find themselves left to protect themselves and their children. She also highlighted the vulnerability of single women who live alone in an apartment or other rented dwelling or a family who simply cannot afford a home and are looking to protect themselves and why this bill would ensure they could do so.
One citizen testified against the bill, asserting an individual has the right to determine if they want a firearm in their home, regardless of if any portion of that home is the dwelling of another.
After more back and forth between committee members clarifying the specific applications of the bill, with one member noting that by agreeing to lease their property, owners do give tenants many rights under federal law, the vote was 8-2 in favor of passage with both Democrats on the committee voting “No”.
Since the House and Senate versions of the bill now vary substantially and the Senate has already passed SB0350, should the full House eventually pass HB0469, the legislation will be returned to the Senate for a vote on any amendments.
If the Senate concurs, the law will pass as written by the House. If the body refuses to concur, a conference committee may be called to negotiate any differences.
For now, however, HB0469 still must complete its course through the committee process before heading to the House floor. The bill will go before the House Commerce Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
To contact committee members, use the information below:
Rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.shaundelle.brooks@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.john.ray.clemmons@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.tandy.darby@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov
rep.rusty.grills@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.michael.hale@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.caleb.hemmer@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.justin.lafferty@capitol.tn.gov
rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.brock.martin@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov
rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov; rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.shaundelle.brooks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.ray.clemmons@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tandy.darby@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rusty.grills@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michael.hale@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov; rep.caleb.hemmer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov; rep.justin.lafferty@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.susan.lynn@capitol.tn.gov; rep.pat.marsh@capitol.tn.gov; rep.brock.martin@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov; rep.greg.vital@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Thanx! Emailed committee, “Please don’t kill this!”