gun laws

Two Republican state lawmakers filed legislation this week that would change Tennessee’s firearms dispossession form, closing a dangerous loophole that experts say leaves domestic violence victims vulnerable.

Public support for Tennessee politicians has risen in recent months, according to a Vanderbilt poll out Friday. However, the report also found that support is higher for measures that the Republican-controlled statehouse opposes, including abortion access and gun reform.

SPRINGFIELD – A federal judge in East St. Louis on Friday struck down Illinois’ assault weapons ban on the grounds that it violates the Second and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution and issued an order barring the state from enforcing it.

A Northern Kentucky Republican will file a bill in the 2025 legislative session to hold parents and guardians civilly accountable for gun violence or misuse carried out by minor children in their care.

State lawmakers wrapped the 2024 session up Thursday night, having passed two of the biggest bills in the last week.

Groups also call for changes to state’s homicide reporting, cold case investigations

The Tennessee Senate began session Tuesday afternoon with a full gallery of parents and students ready to make their voices heard in dissent of a bill to arm teachers. As debate began on SB 1325 guests in the gallery began to snap and cheer when they agreed with points made by Democratic legislators. The main one: that more guns is not the answer.

Tennessee is facing a stark increase in gun violence. With more than 1,500 people killed by gunfire in 2021, Tennessee is now No. 10 in the nation for firearm mortality per capita. But that’s not stopping state lawmakers from passing bills to expand access to guns.

Governor Bill Lee has announced that he will not ask state lawmakers to pass an extreme risk protection order during the upcoming legislative session. That proposal would have allowed a judge to temporarily prevent people found to be a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms.

The special session focused on public safety in Tennessee is officially happening. It’s set to begin Aug. 21 — as expected. Gov. Bill Lee is asking lawmakers to focus on preventing violent crime, but Democrats say it misses the mark.