Legislation to end access to handgun permits advances in House and Senate
By Richard Locker, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
NASHVILLE -- Bills to close public records on Tennessee handgun-carry permits inched closer to approval Wednesday after the bills' supporters tried but failed to close statistical data on the permits, too.
Rep. Eddie Bass, D-Pulaski, House sponsor of the confidentiality bill, said he saw no benefit to the public release of statistical reports because it "could be used against" the permit program.
An annual report by the state Department of Safety to the state legislature shows 624 permits were revoked or suspended in 2007 due to felony convictions, arrests and court orders of protection (usually sought by victims of domestic abuse). The report also shows that 605 permit applications were denied in 2007, while 48,991 were issued, pushing the total of carry permits to about 220,000 statewide.
The bill that would close all public access to information identifying gun-carry licensees, including those charged with or convicted of gun crimes, advanced in House and Senate committees Wednesday, but with differences that must be resolved before it can become law.
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