AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, relative to firearms.
Summary
SB 1348 is a firearms bill that makes two targeted changes to Tennessee law. First, it deletes subsection (g) from Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-1307, which is the statute governing unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon. Second, it amends § 39-17-1313(a) to remove a reference to people who lawfully carry a handgun under the deleted subsection. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
In practical terms, the measure appears designed to eliminate a specific statutory category related to lawful handgun carry and to conform related language elsewhere in the firearms code. Because the bill text is limited to deleting one subsection and striking a cross-reference, its main effect is to change how Tennessee law defines or recognizes certain handgun-carry authority rather than creating a new regulatory scheme.
Impact
The bill would amend Title 39 of the Tennessee Code by removing subsection (g) from § 39-17-1307 and deleting a related reference in § 39-17-1313(a). This would alter the legal framework for carrying handguns in Tennessee by eliminating the statutory provision referenced in the bill and updating a related firearms restriction or exception to match. The affected parties are individuals who carry handguns and law enforcement or courts applying Tennessee’s weapons laws.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears technical and narrowly focused, but because it concerns firearms regulation, it would likely draw interest from both gun-rights supporters and gun-regulation opponents. The absence of recorded discussion prevents a reliable assessment of broader legislative sentiment.
Contention
The main point of contention would likely be the policy effect of deleting § 39-17-1307(g): whether removing that subsection expands lawful handgun carry, narrows an existing exception, or otherwise changes who may carry and under what conditions. Any disagreement would center on firearms policy, public safety, and the scope of lawful carry rights. Without transcripts, it is not possible to identify specific legislators or stakeholder groups taking positions, but the issue is inherently sensitive because it affects handgun carry rules and related enforcement.