A measure that would have let off-duty police officers carry guns into any ticketed event was voted down Wednesday in the state legislature.
The broadly worded proposal was designed to override policies banning guns at private fundraisers, music festivals, even Tennessee Titans games.
State Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, proposed
House Bill 455. The measure would have made it illegal to keep police out of events if they’d bought tickets and had informed event operators they planned to carry their guns.
It went too far for state Rep. Bill Beck, D-Nashville. He noted the NFL bans any spectator from carrying a firearm and suggested the team might even decide to relocate rather than allow in weapons.
“So I’m going to have to respect the wishes of the NFL. We spent hundreds of millions of dollars getting them here and building this stadium. And, unfortunately, I don’t want to jeopardize that.”
Littleton said she’d hoped to negotiate that point with the NFL if the measure had passed.
But the House Civil Justice Committee rejected it on a voice vote.
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