Guns-in-Trunks Heads to Haslam

House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick fights off amendments to the guns-in-trunks legislation. Photo credit Blake Farmer/WPLN

A bill that would allow handgun permit holders to store firearms just about anywhere they park is poised to become law. The so-called guns-in-trunks legislation now goes to the governor after being passed by the state House.

There would have been very little debate but for 13 amendments proposed mostly by Democrats at the last minute. Most would have exempted certain property owners.

Sponsor Jeremy Faison of East Tennessee says he had no intention of allowing any amendments.

“Absolutely there are some good ideas, but at the end of the day, I gave my word to business people and to common sense gun owners that we were going to pass this bill just like this, and it has something for everybody.”

House Speaker Beth Harwell told Republicans they could follow their conscience on the exemptions. Ultimately very few supported them.

The guns-in-trunks legislation passed by more than a two-thirds majority and now awaits the signature of Governor Bill Haslam, who has voiced concerns primarily about guns stored on school grounds.

Republicans ihope the issue is now behind them after a much broader bill was kept from coming to a vote last year.

The state’s largest employers didn’t want to lose control over their own parking lots and whether guns could be stored in cars. They told Republican leaders to kill last year’s bill, and when lawmakers followed the request, the National Rifle Association picked out Rep. Debra Maggart of Hendersonville and made sure she didn’t win re-election.

Independent Kent Williams tried to get Republicans to admit they are bowing to the NRA.

“If the former caucus member of the majority party had won her election, we probably wouldn’t even have this today.”

Businesses – according to House Speaker Beth Harwell – largely decided to “hold their noses.” In this year’s bill, they’re also granted immunity if anyone is injured or killed by a gun that was stored on site.