NASHVILLE (AP) — The House has passed a bill that would seal most handgun carry permit records in Tennessee.
The chamber voted 84-10 on Monday in favor of the bill sponsored by Republican Rep. William Lamberth of Gallatin. The bill would block all public access unless a requester presents evidence that permit holders had been charged or convicted of a crime making them ineligible to carry firearms.
Lamberth said the measure is in response to the publication of handgun carry permit records on newspaper websites.
Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville has spoken out against sealing the records of Tennessee's nearly 400,000 handgun carry permit holders.
An Associated Press review found more than 2,000 people had their permits revoked or suspended over the last two years for charges ranging from drug dealing to murder.