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VOL. 43 | NO. 14 | Friday, April 5, 2019
Tennessee closer to axing penalty on guns at some businesses
NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee House has passed legislation to eliminate penalties when carry permit holders bring guns to some private properties and immediately leave when they realize firearms are banned.
Monday's House vote moves the action to the Senate floor.
Republican Rep. Clark Boyd argued his bill would help people avoid a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine.
The bill would apply to places that are generally publicly open, post about banning guns and are where a reasonable person would consider it legal to carry.
The House briefly amended it to limit ignorance of private businesses' gun bans to only a legal defense. Republican amendment sponsor Rep. Bud Hulsey contended Boyd's version puts police in a bad position.
Lawmakers quickly unraveled that amendment.