Gov. Bill Lee to NRA: Tennessee permitless handgun carry part of 'public safety agenda'

Gov. Bill Lee on Monday thanked members of the National Rifle Association, the country's leading gun rights group, for helping push a Tennessee bill to remove the state's permit requirement to carry a handgun.

Speaking to NRA members on a video call Monday evening, Lee thanked the group for its work to help move forward his administration's permitless carry bill in this year's session of the Tennessee General Assembly.

The $20 million legislation, which Lee and other Republican supporters refer to as a "constitutional carry" bill, has passed the Senate and is expected to receive final approval in the House next week. The bill last year stalled due to pandemic-related budget cuts and similar legislation filed in previous legislative sessions failed to gain the level of support Lee's legislation has received.

Former Gov. Bill Haslam was opposed to removing the state's existing handgun permit requirements, while leading law enforcement officials and prosecutors continue to testify against the legislation.

Read more: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/22/tennessee-permitless-carry-gov-lee-joins-nra-call-tn-constitutional-gun-bill/6958260002/