AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 and Title 40, relative to criminal justice.
Summary
SB1318 amends Tennessee’s handgun carry permit law. The bill lowers the minimum age to apply for a handgun carry permit from 21 to 18 for eligible Tennessee residents who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, so long as they are not otherwise prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm under state or federal law and meet the remaining permit requirements. It also revises the disqualifying DUI history standard for permit applicants and renewals.
Under the bill, an applicant cannot have been convicted of driving under the influence two or more times within the ten years before applying or renewing, and none of those DUI convictions may have occurred within five years of the application or renewal date. The measure amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39, specifically the handgun carry permit provisions in § 39-17-1351, and takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Impact
The bill changes state firearms licensing law by expanding handgun carry permit eligibility to 18-year-olds and tightening/clarifying the DUI-related eligibility criteria for permit applicants and renewals. It affects the Department of Safety’s permit-issuance process and the pool of residents eligible to receive a handgun carry permit, while preserving all existing state and federal firearm disqualifications.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill had meaningful but not overwhelming support in committee, passing the Senate Judiciary Committee 6-2 and being recommended for passage with amendment(s). The absence of transcript discussion limits insight into detailed arguments, but the committee vote indicates general support among a majority of members, alongside some opposition.
Contention
The main points of contention are likely the reduction of the handgun carry permit age from 21 to 18 and the broader policy question of whether younger adults should be eligible for concealed carry permits. Another likely issue is the bill’s treatment of DUI convictions as a permit disqualifier, which may have prompted debate over public safety standards versus expanded access to firearms. The recorded 6-2 committee vote shows that at least two senators opposed the measure or its amended form.