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New Laws Affect Hunting Licenses, Second Amendment

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Of the new bills passed by the Senate, several affect sport licensing and strengthen the Second Amendment.

Senate Bill 1199 establishes an annual sport license system, requiring all annual licenses and permits relating to wildlife to expire 365 days following the date of issuance.

Senate Bill 765 allows Tennesseeans to exercise their Second Amendment rights to carry open or concealed firearms without a permit, as long as they are at least 21 years of age, or are honorably discharged or active in the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves. Tennesseans who carry without a permit must have no felony convictions or pending charges. Individuals convicted of two DUI offenses within the last ten years or one in the last five years, as well as federal prohibitions which include illegal aliens and fugitives from justice are also not eligible.

The bill also increases the penalty for theft of a firearm to a Class E felony and provides a sentencing enhancement for theft of a firearm in a car. It increases the minimum sentence for theft of a firearm from 30 days to 180 days and increases the sentences for unlawful possession of a firearm by violent felons and felony drug offenders, possession of a handgun by a felon, and unlawfully providing a handgun to a juvenile or allowing a juvenile to possess a handgun.

The Firearm Information Privacy Protection Act was also passed, protecting citizens’ anonymity related to firearm ownership. It creates a Class E felony for any public personnel who intentionally discloses information about an owner of a firearm for the purpose of compiling a federal firearms registry or confiscation of firearms.

Senate Bill 1334 protects gun owners by preventing a state or local entity from creating a registry to keep record of who possesses firearms in Tennessee.

Senate Bill 551incentivizes the safe storage of firearms and exempts sales taxes on gun safety devices and safes for one year.