Tennessee House Passes Second Amendment Sanctuary Act

Scotty Campbell

The Tennessee House passed the “Second Amendment Sanctuary Act,” asserting the state can ignore unconstitutional federal gun rules and regulations. The act would also punish any official who violates this legislation by removing them from their position.

The act reasserts that Tennessee doesn’t have to enforce any federal law, treaty, order, rule, or regulation that the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) or the Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional. The Second Amendment Sanctuary Act passed 74 to 13, with just one Democrat voting for it – State Representative Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis). Last week, it passed in the Senate along party lines, 24 to 4 with two abstaining their votes. 

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Tennessee Firearms Association: 2nd Amendment Sanctuary Act Needs More Teeth

The recently-introduced Second Amendment Sanctuary Act isn’t all that novel, and may need different enforcement mechanisms if it’s to succeed. This, according to Tennessee Firearms Association Executive Director John Harris. In interviews with The Tennessee Star, Harris and State Representative Scotty Campbell (R-Mountain City) discussed the merits and shortcomings of Campbell’s latest gun rights bill.

Harris predicted that this legislation would fail to fix the original problem presented in a nearly-identical bill signed into law in 2015. He added that another similar bill, the Firearms Freedom Act – made law in 2009 in response to President Barack Obama taking office – affords a similar defense against federal government actions, though he noted that enforcement of those two laws hasn’t occurred.

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Tennessee Legislators Introduce Second Amendment Sanctuary Act to Oppose Potential Biden Executive Orders on Gun Rights

In response to President Joe Biden’s promises to further limit gun ownership, Tennessee legislators introduced the Second Amendment Sanctuary Act.

The bill summarizes its premise in just under a page – prohibiting enforcement of any federal government laws, treaties, executive orders, rules, or regulations that violate the Second Amendment. The summary explained that passage would render pressures on Second Amendment rights as “null, void, and unenforceable.” Additionally, the bill would limit state or local governments from using public funds, personnel, or property to enforce them.

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