Fake News Reports That TN Bill Seeks To Recognize Some Handgun Owners As Police

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By John Harris [Tennessee Firearms Association] –

There are news reports and some press releases, primarily from law enforcement agencies, claiming that SB2523/HB2554 seeks to “recognize some handgun owners as police”.  This is not just incompetent reporting but it is simply false, or intentionally misleading.

There is a law already on the books in Tennessee TCA 39-17-1350, which is the subject of this bill, that addresses one issue and that is the capacity of OFF DUTY law enforcement officers to carry in certain gun free zones.

Keep in mind, Tennessee’s supreme court has said that OFF DUTY law enforcement are not some category of super citizen, they are simply citizens like everyone else. They have the right to defend their lives and they have arrest powers (if they opt to use them) BUT citizens also have statutory arrest powers in Tennessee! 

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Off duty law enforcement have no legal duty to defend you, to save your life or to make an arrest – any more than any other citizen.

This bill says that those civilians who have the ENHANCED PERMIT would be entitled to the same exceptions relative to gun free zones as are OFF DUTY officers.

The bill DOES NOT make citizens law enforcement officers, off duty officers or government officials. All it does is provide that if an off duty officer can carry in a gun free zone then so can an enhanced permit holder. 

The news agencies that are reporting otherwise are reporting – incompetently or intentionally – false, fake, and misleading news… or where I come from … lies.  

If your sheriff, if your FOP, if the Tennessee Sheriffs Association or the Chiefs of Police Association raise a single word in opposition to this legislation – legislation which is designed to treat all “off duty” civilians equally in terms of exercising the right of self-defense – then remember that they next time that they ask for donations or your vote.   Call them now and tell them you are watching, you are listening and that you are demanding their SUPPORT on this bill.

About the Author: John Harris is the Executive Director of The Tennessee Firearms Association. You can contact TFA here. You can join TFA here.