Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed John Harris, founder of the Tennessee Firearms Association, in studio to weigh in on the recent mall shooting in Indiana that was cut short by a good samaritan and his Glock.
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Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed John Harris, founder of the Tennessee Firearms Association, in studio to weigh in on the Supreme Court’s decision to throw out a century-old law that would restrict gun ownership and require special licensing.
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With one-term Representative Eddie Mannis deciding not to run for another term, Tennessee House District 18 is the only one of Knox County’s seven state House districts that will have a contested Republican primary on the August 4 ballot.
Elaine Davis, Former Knox County Commissioner and former Vice Chair of the Knox County Republican Party will face off against Knoxville City Council member-at-large Janet Testerman in the district that lies mainly in West Knoxville and is now considered to be slightly more conservative after the recent redistricting that picked up a small portion of South Knox.
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The Tennessee Firearms Association released their Red Flag Candidate Pledge form on Tuesday.
The pledge, which is for candidates running for office in 2022 to fill out and pledge that they will never support red flag laws, can be found here.
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The Tennessee Firearms Association (TFA) responded Friday to a set of gun control bills that passed in the House of Representatives this week. The group also criticized Tennessee lawmakers for “putting Tennesseans’ lives at risk” with current state legislation in place.
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Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed John Harris, founder of the Tennessee Firearms Association, to the newsmaker line to discuss the implications of a civilian interfering in a mass shooter situation, Metro Nashville protocols, and removing the Second Amendment.
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Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed John Harris, founder of the Tennessee Firearms Association, to the newsmaker line to comment upon the Uvalde, Texas timeline of the mass shooting at an elementary school Tuesday as reported by the AP.
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Democrat-sponsored legislation which contains creation of firearm buyback program and refers to gun violence as a public health issue is scheduled for Tennessee General Assembly Committee consideration over the coming days.
The legislation requires the Tennessee Department of Safety to develop a firearm buyback program “in
collaboration with local community groups.”
Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed John Harris, founder of the Tennessee Firearms Association, to the newsmaker line to discuss the nature of bills that he is tracking for 2022. Leahy: Now on the newsmaker line by our very good friend, the Founder and President of the Tennessee Firearms Association, John Harris. Good morning, John. Harris: Good morning. Leahy: And let me also add that you are the co-author, along with Claudia Henneberry and me of the Guide of the Constitution: Bill of Rights for Secondary School Students. That’s the supplemental text that we use as the standard for the National Constitution Bee. We will be holding the 6th National Constitution Bee for students in grades eight through 12 coming up on October 22nd in Brentwood. Five thousand dollars to the second-place winner, $10,000 to the first place winner educational scholarship. So thank you for that work as well. Now tell me, do you have your report card, your interim report card, out to grade the Tennessee General Assembly on Second Amendment…
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The NRA Institute for Legislative Action has weighed in on several firearms-related bills being considered by various Tennessee General Assembly committees and subcommittees this week.
The Tennessee Star has previously reported that the Tennessee Firearms Association has weighed in on firearms-related legislation. The Tennessee Firearms Association and the NRA agree on opposition to two bills in particular.
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Several firearms-related bills that are pending before the Tennessee General Assembly are scheduled to be taken up for committee and subcommittee consideration in the coming days. These bills deal with firearm permitting, self-defense and justifiable force, vouchers for firearms training classes, carry by off-duty law enforcement officers, gun violence as a public health problem, and storing firearms in vehicles.
Four of the bills have action pending in the state House and another has action pending in the state Senate.
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The Tennessee Firearms Association announced their opposition to a pending bill under General Assembly consideration that lowers the handgun carry age from 21 to 18.
Rep. Chris Todd (R-Madison-HD73) filed HB1735 on January 13, 2022. House Majority Leader William Lamberth is a co-sponsor. Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville-SD9) filed the companion bill, SB2291, on February 2, 2022.
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Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed John Harris of the Tennessee Firearms Association to comment upon recent legislation put for by Representative Rusty Grills renamed ‘enhanced and concealed firearm carry permits .’
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Monday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Tennessee Firearms Associations John Harris to the newsmakers line to discuss firearm safety in response to ‘Rust’ movie set death.
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Tuesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Executive Director and Founder of Tennessee Firearms Association, John Harris in studio to offer support and training to those who would like to run for public office.
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Tuesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Executive Director of the Tennessee Firearms Association, John Harris in studio to explain the importance of his organization and the need for similar state-based groups.
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Tuesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Tennessee Firearms Founder John Harris in studio to discuss a short history of Tennessee’s Second Amendment and the classic old-style Democrat of yesteryear.
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The Tennessee Firearms Association Legislative Action Committee (TFALAC) held its most successful annual fundraiser in the organization’s 25-year history on Saturday at the Farm Bureau Expo Center at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center on the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon.
The proceeds from the midday event, attended by several hundred, will be used to provide financial support to state legislative candidates who advocate for the Second Amendment.
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The Tennessee Firearms Association joined the Second Amendment Foundation in an amicus brief for a 2nd Amendment Supreme Court case.
According to the court, the ruling from the issues presented in the case could have significance to potential future challenges to Tennessee’s permitting and permitless carry laws.
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Friday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed John Harris of the Tennessee Firearms Association to the newsmakers line to weigh in on Joe Biden’s gun control executive order and whether or not Tennessee legislators will respond.
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The Tennessee House passed the bill allowing permitless open or concealed carry, dubbed the “constitutional carry bill.” It will head to Governor Bill Lee’s desk, where it’s expected to be signed.
Under the bill, anyone 21 and older could lawfully carry without a permit, for both open and concealed carry. These provisions would only apply to handguns. A slew of House amendments proposed to the bill were withdrawn.
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Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Tennessee Firearm Association’s John Harris to the studio to define and discuss the three bills pertaining to constitutional carry gun rights legislation.
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Members of the Nashville-based Tennessee Firearms Association on Wednesday said members of the Tennessee General Assembly are considering three permit-less carry bills, but one of them does not fully comply with the Second Amendment. TFA Executive Director John Harris told followers by email that the bill to which he refers, Senate Bill 765, is scheduled to make its way to the Tennessee State Senate floor Thursday. The Tennessee General Assembly’s website identifies the sponsor as State Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin).
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Wednesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Tennessee State Rep. Clay Doggett to the newsmakers line to talk about constitutional carry legislation and the importance of getting involved at the local level.
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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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The Tennessee Firearms Association (TFA) announced its support for what it called a “real” constitutional carry bill filed by State Representative Bruce Griffey (R-Paris) for the upcoming legislative session.
Late last week, John Harris, Executive Director of TFA, “Tennessee’s only no-compromise gun organization,” sent an email to its members and released a podcast discussing Griffey’s HB0018.
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Tennesseans should have the right to protect their property, State Representative Jay D. Reedy (R-Erin) told The Tennessee Star in an exclusive interview.
Reedy introduced House Bill 11. Tracking information is here. Reedy said it mirrors the law in Texas.
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At a press conference Thursday surrounded by more than 40 members of the Tennessee General Assembly, Governor Bill Lee announced that he will be introducing legislation supporting the God-given and constitutionally-protected Second Amendment rights of Tennesseans with a Constitutional Carry bill.
Word of an announcement that would generically expand “constitutional rights” got out late Wednesday, although the Tennessee Firearms Association’s Executive Director John Harris said that they were made aware weeks ago of a major announcement on a 2A issue that TFA members would likely be pleased with.
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HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee – As the Sumner County Board of Commissioners are scheduled take up a Second Amendment Sanctuary County Resolution Monday, citizens gathered in support of their God-given constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms.
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The executive director of the Tennessee Firearms Association wants all gun owners in the state to know about what he calls “Walmart’s increasing anti-gun stance.” In a column posted on the TFT website Tuesday, Executive Director John Harris said Walmart is no longer “a truly ‘American’ store. “Even worse – if that is possible – all gun owners should know that Walmart has openly stated that it is now in ‘partnership’ on gun control issues with Everytown for Gun Safety which appears to be one of Michael Bloomberg’s ‘shell’ gun control entities that pushes for sweeping gun bans and Red Flag laws!” Harris wrote. “So, what is Walmart telling Americans? It is saying it is now in partnership with the gun control fanatic – Michael Bloomberg – and the various corporate shells that he apparently creates to hide his participation in the gun control and gun abatement movement from the public.” As ABC News reported Tuesday, Walmart officials announced they will limit the sales of guns and ammunition at their stores. The store will also discontinue sales of certain types of rifle ammunition. People on the left side of the police aisle were elated with Walmart’s choice. On his…
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The Tennessee Firearms Association (TFA) has filed an Amicus Curiae (Friend of the Court) brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the matter of Jeremy Kettler v. U.S. urging the Court to hear the case on appeal from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. The brief was filed on Feb. 19, 2019, along with the Downsize DC Foundation and the Heller Foundation. Mr. Kettler, a military veteran, has war-induced hearing damage. He bought a suppressor (inaccurately called a silencer in some news reports) to protect his hearing during target practice with his lawfully owned weapons. He purchased the suppressor under the Kansas Second Amendment Protect Act (Kansas Act). The Kansas law protects guns and gun accessories from federal regulation if they were manufactured entirely within the state of Kansas and then sold in Kansas. The suppressor purchased by Mr. Kettler met both provisions of the law. (Tennessee and eight other states have enacted similar laws.) Subsequently, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) arrested Kettler and ultimately charged him with and a federal jury convicted him of a felony for possessing an unregistered firearm. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the conviction, ruling in part that ONLY…
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State Senator Steve Dickerson (R-Nashville) has gotten the attention of local and national gun rights activist groups for promising to introduce a “red flag” bill in the upcoming legislative session. So-called red flag laws permit a judge to issue an order to seize firearms from a lawful owner based upon a petition from police or family members citing something as feeble as statements made by the gun owner in question, hence the name “red flag.” Dickerson, in an op-ed to The Tennessean, alludes to bills signed into law by Republican governors since the Parkland shooting, saying, “This is exactly the type of bipartisan, common-sense gun violence prevention policy we need in Tennessee.” That’s why, Dickerson says, “I will introduce a red flag bill when the Tennessee General Assembly reconvenes next session.” Tennessee Firearms Association Executive Director John Harris, in an email to the organization’s members, has raised the question as to whether Constitutional rights should be subject to the low threshold infringements of red flag laws. Ammoland Shooting Sports News picked up Harris’ commentary and published it in its entirety. Harris says that red flag laws “may just be the newest euphemism for reasonable gun control.” Indeed, in his commentary,…
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The recently ended legislative year in Nashville was “pitiful” in terms of protecting gun rights, a state firearms advocacy group says in a report. The “Tennessee Firearms Association 2018 Legislative Report and Review” takes the Republican super-majority in the General Assembly to task on 15 new laws and/or amendments to existing laws. “Based on their actions this year there is really no evidence that the Republican super-majority, as a whole, is a strong proponent and defender of those individual and personal rights which are recognized and protected by the 2nd Amendment and Article I, Section 26 of the Tennessee Constitution,” the report says. That is despite 57 bills that were either introduced or were active after Jan. 1 of this year that “would have implemented changes that would have made Tennessee a much better state for the free exercise of our constitutionally protected rights.” The Tennessee Firearms Association says those “good” bills that failed would, among other things, have: Implemented constitutional carry; Implemented permitless open carry; Implemented the 2018 Second Amendment Protections Act (a significant rewrite of several existing laws) to bring them more in compliance with the 2nd Amendment’s prohibitions against government infringements. This includes a prohibition on local…
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The Tennessee Firearms Association (TFA) released its 2018 state legislature and gubernatorial candidate surveys on Friday. TFA executive director John Harris told The Tennessee Star that many candidates provided responses that were less than fully forthcoming. “A lot of candidates tell us, or put in their literature, that they are strong or reliable on the Second Amendment. But they don’t respond when we ask them specific questions about where they stand,” Harris said. “We sent the survey to all state legislative and gubernatorial candidates of all parties that registered with the State Election Commission to run in the August primary elections,” he added. “Just under 400 surveys were sent out. We got back about 70,” Harris noted None of the major gubernatorial candidates from either party responded to the specific questions asked in the survey, Harris said. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee responded with a two page letter that did not address the questions in the survey, but asserted that he supports the Second Amendment, Harris noted. “That tells us all the major gubernatorial candidates of both parties say they are strong or good on the Second Amendment, but they won’t answer specific questions,” Harris added. As for the 70…
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The far-left organizers of the Nashville gun control march that drew some 10,000 people of all ages to the city’s downtown on Saturday portrayed the event as an exercise in political democracy to “keep students safe in school,” but Tennessee Firearms Association (TFA) Executive Director John Harris told The Tennessee Star in an exclusive statement it “does nothing but show a disdain for our entire constitutional republic.” Organized by the far-left “Women’s March,” the national series of gun control marches held on Saturday, dubbed by the organizers as a “March for Our Lives” (using the language of the decades long pro-life anti-abortion movement), were said to have been a demonstration “by and for students” to support stricter gun legislation in the wake of the school shooting at Marjory-Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. “The March for Our Lives demonstrates yet again how some will implicate the First Amendment in a misguided attempt to trample the rights recognized and protected from any infringement by the Second Amendment,” TFA’s Harris told The Star. “Sadly, such an exhibition does nothing but show a disdain for our entire constitutional republic, which is the only form of government proven to recognize and protect individual rights,” Harris added.…
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This year’s annual event held by the Tennessee Firearms Association Legislative Action Committee will be Saturday, Sept. 30. The event will take place at the Smiley Hollow Farm just north of Nashville in the Goodlettsville area. It’s a casual event with casual attire and will feature a meal, speakers and an auction. Speakers will be announced later. Sponsors include Lee Beaman and Beaman Automotive Group, Bill Goodman’s Gun & Knife Show, Beretta USA and State Farm agent Marty Luffman. Doors will open at 9 a.m., with the meal being served around 11 a.m. The event will run until 2 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. Tickets are now limited but a small number are still available. For more information and to order tickets, visit tfalac.org/2017-annual-dinner. If there are guns or items that you would like to consider donating to the event for auction, contact John Harris.
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The city of Knoxville is bracing for demonstrations Saturday afternoon featuring a rally in support of a Confederate monument and counterprotesters, but a prohibition on firearms is raising concerns among some gun rights advocates. Because of the violent clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia, two weeks ago, Knoxville city officials are taking precautions to try to prevent protests from turning violent. “Our officers will be there to maintain order and ensure that everybody is free to speak their piece,” said Mayor Madeline Rogero in a news release Wednesday. “These are volatile times, and I strongly urge everyone to refrain from antagonism. We can have these discussions as a community without resorting to angry rhetoric or violence.” No guns, other weapons or masks will be allowed for people entering designated demonstration areas. People planning to enter those areas will be screened with a metal detector. Signs and flags will not be allowed into the demonstration zones if they are attached to a pole or stick or any object that could be used as a weapon. Water bottles, drink containers, coolers, beverages and food are also banned. Water will be provided on site. The city is citing TCA 39-17-1359 in state law to support…
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JACKSON, Tennessee– Gubernatorial candidate Mae Beavers told a meeting of the Tennessee Firearms Association here on Thursday night that in the event of an attack similar to the shooting of Republican Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA) in Virginia on Wednesday, “before police arrive, those of us who have secured permits and are armed are the only source of protection for ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbors.” “We should continue to pray for the victims of the vicious attack on Republican Members of Congress — and their families. That horrific event should remind us that it is our responsibility to protect ourselves and our families from violence. Had there not been a security detail present the ‘tragedy,would have been, as Senator Rand Paul has pointed out, a ,massacre,” Beavers said, adding: Although the police responded quickly and effectively, it was still several minutes before they arrived. When seconds count, the police are minutes away. In that critical time span before police arrive, those of us who have secured permits and are armed are the only source of protection for ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbors. Those who have obtained permits in Tennessee should carry a weapon and be prepared…
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A significant majority of likely Republican primary voters in Tennessee support constitutional carry, according to results of The Tennessee Star Poll released this week. When asked, “In 2018, the Tennessee General Assembly is also expected to reconsider a bill that would allow Tennesseans to carry firearms without obtaining a state issued permit, which is commonly known as ‘Constitutional Carry.’ Do you support or oppose Constitutional Carry in Tennessee? ” 57 percent of likely Republican primary voters said they favored it, while only 32 percent said they opposed it: 38.5% strongly support 19.1% somewhat support 11.9% somewhat oppose 20.8% strongly oppose 9.8% Don’t know/unsure The poll of 1,007 likely Republican primary voters was conducted by Triton Polling and Research in an automated (IVR) telephone survey between May 31 and June 5 and has a margin of error of 3.1 percent. “Based on my experience talking to people and explaining constitutional carry, I think 57 percent understates the support for constitutional carry in Tennessee,” John Harris, executive director of the Tennessee Firearms Association, tells The Tennessee Star. “This is because people think constitutional carry will eliminate the possibility to get handgun permits for reciprocity purposes in other states,” he adds. “Even with…
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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry is asking Gov. Bill Haslam to veto a bill that would require cities and counties to enhance security at public venues or allow permit holders to carry handguns. The legislation would apply to parks, zoos, buses, auditoriums, museums, fairs and more. Places like Bridgestone Arena and Nissan Stadium that already have heavy security and ban handguns are not included in the legislation. Schools, libraries and law enforcement offices are also exempted. Passed earlier this month by the state legislature after much debate, the bill also provides lawful gun owners with a private cause of action to challenge local gun control policies that run counter to state law. Haslam is expected to sign the bill because it passed overwhelmingly in both the House and the Senate. But opponents are still working to persuade him otherwise. The Safe Tennessee Project and Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America are also opposed to the legislation. However, the National Rifle Association and the Tennessee Firearms Association (TFA) back the measure. The groups represent individuals who want their gun rights enforced and a limit on gun-free zones where citizens may be targeted by criminals who don’t abide by the rules. “The portion of the law which gives…
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