House Bill 535 could eliminate gun permits in Tennessee

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) –  If a Tennessee state representative gets his way, gun permits for concealed or open carry would no longer be required.

Tennessee State Representative Rick Womick is endorsing House Bill 535. It’s a controversial bill that would eliminate any permit requirement for both concealed and open carry of firearms. It would also eliminate the gun safety training requirement.

 

WDEF spoke to gun enthusiasts at Sportsman’s indoor gun range in Chattanooga to get their take on the proposal.

"I think if you’re going to let someone carry a firearm, the person should be able to display some level of competency with that firearm. If that doesn’t involve having a carry permit which is the current law in Tennessee, then put firearm safety education in public school systems," said firearm expert Rodney Brown.

"As a supporter of the 2nd Amendment, I want to see it protected and I feel like if you go too far and don’t require people to have proper training, it creates problems," said gun owner Larry Hopper.

Safe Tennessee Project Policy Director Beth Joslin Roth is worried that HB-535 will ultimately lead to an innocent person getting hurt or killed.

"Someone could be walking around with a gun on them in a public place and they may or may not have ever had any type training on how to use the gun or how to handle the gun in a high stress situation," Roth said.

WDEF wanted to know why Representative Womick would endorse a bill that even some gun rights advocates don’t agree with. No one from his office was available.

"They feel they have a constitutional right to carry a gun and that any type of permitting process is an infringement of that right," Roth said.

The Department of Education, Department of Safety and Governor Bill Haslam have all expressed concern about House Bill 535.

House Bill 535 will be presented to the House Civil Justice Subcommittee next week.