NASHVILLE (AP) - A bill seeking to make it a crime to enforce federal firearms laws in Tennessee has failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Mae Beavers of Mt. Juliet received a 4-4 vote on the panel Wednesday. Bills must earn a majority to advance.
An attorney general's opinion released this week deemed the bill unconstitutional, and a lobbyist for Gov. Bill Haslam said it was unlikely the governor would sign the measure into law because of cost concerns over enforcing a bill of dubious constitutionality.
All four votes against the measure were cast by attorneys, led by Sen. Brian Kelsey. The Germantown Republican was appointed by Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey to take over the chairmanship of the committee from Beavers this year.