Governor Haslam Says Gun Legislation Still Up in the Air

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam says it’s too early to tell whether the defeat of House Republican Caucus Chairwoman Debra Maggart in last week’s primary will cause lawmakers to usher through a gun bill championed by the National Rifle Association.  The NRA poured more than $86,000 into the Maggart race, claiming she was instrumental in blocking legislation to guarantee employees the right to store weapons in vehicles parked at work, regardless of the business owner’s wishes.  Haslam has said he supports the measure, but only with exceptions built in for large employers. The NRA wants a more blanket ban on keeping guns from being stored in parking lots.  The governor says responses from lawmakers to the NRA’s role in the Maggart race range from anger to calls for a quick resolution on the bill.