Smoky Mountain Journal -Tennessee House Passes Legislation Lowering Penalty To $250 For First Offense For Toting Gun Without Permit




The Great Smoky Mountain Journal Source: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:38 PM

Tennessee House Passes Legislation Lowering Penalty To $250 For First Offense For Toting Gun Without Permit
The Tennessee House has passed legislation that would lower the penalty to $250 for a first offense of toting a gun without a handgun carry permit. The Republican-led chamber voted 72-20 Monday on the bill. The bill was amended to let officers decide whether to confiscate ammunition. Republican bill sponsor Rep. Micah Van Huss said under current law, it's up to a $500 fine, confiscation of the gun and possible imprisonment. Democratic Rep. Bo Mitchell said the bill would give people a pass for breaking state gun laws at a time when the country is mourning the deaths during last month's Parkland, Florida, school shooting. Van Huss said one good guy with a gun could have saved the children at the school. The bill heads to the Republican-led Senate.