Lawmakers Let Tennesseans Sue If They’re Fired For Gun In Their Car

Tennesseans will soon have the right to sue if their employer fires them for keeping a gun in their car at work.

The change comes in the first major gun bill to pass the General Assembly so far this spring.

Lawmakers agreed two years ago to lift the criminal penalties for keeping a gun locked up in the trunk or glove compartment of a vehicle. But they intentionally left vague whether employers could still fire workers who do so.

Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville), the sponsor of Senate Bill 1058, says this is unfair.

“A single mom driving to work, parking her car at her place of employment but passing through maybe a difficult part of town, should have the right to have her gun in her possession, as she goes to work and protect herself,” he said.  ”That right is hers.”

Businesses fought hard against guns-in-trunks two years ago, but they haven’t tried to stop lawmakers from expanding the law this year.

That may be because the burden of proof would be on employees to show that their guns — and not something else — were the cause of their firing.

More gun bills are expected to follow. The state Senate also approved a bill last night that would let gun owners carry in places off-campus where school clubs meet or teams play. It’s set for debate in the House later this week.

And lawmakers are close to ending local bans on guns in parks. Gov. Bill Haslam says he opposes that measure. But it’s not clear whether he’ll veto it, or any other gun bills this year.