Tennessee: Courts blamed for incomplete felon data

NASHVILLE — Some courts in Tennessee are not forwarding information on people charged with or convicted of felonies so the data can be matched with holders of handgun permits, state safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell said Wednesday.

His remarks came as lawmakers consider a raft of handgun permit legislation, including a bill that would make all information about the state’s 220,000 permit holders confidential and publishing it a Class A misdemeanor punishable by fines of up to $2,500.

Mr. Mitchell cited the problem with the courts as he discussed strides Department of Safety officials have made trying to ensure that no current permit holders have committed crimes that should result in losing their authorization to carry loaded handguns in public.

“I think we have done a very good job of filling the gaps,” he told reporters. “We’re doing background investigations on all renewals. We do thorough background investigations on all applications.”

But “we still have some communications issues with the courts, the respective counties, but we’ve done a much better job,” he said.

He did not immediately identify which courts were not forwarding information to the safety department.

Earlier Wednesday, Rep. Eddie Bass, D-Prospect, the sponsor of the bill to keep handgun permits confidential, delayed consideration of the legislation in the full Judiciary Committee.

He later said he was considering adding two amendments. One would eliminate the criminal penalty on publication and create instead a civil cause of action for permit holders whose names have been published.

“I just want to do what’s right,” said Rep. Bass, a former sheriff. “I just don’t think this personal information should be out there.”

“I don’t understand why, if you want to have a handgun permit, which is your right, that you’d be so concerned about people knowing about that,” said Sen. Beverly Marrero, D-Memphis. “If I had a handgun permit or if I had a gun in my house, I’d have a big ol’ sign out in my front yard saying, ‘Don’t mess with this woman. She’s got a gun.’”

On Wednesday, House Judiciary Committee members approved House Bill 716, sponsored by Rep. Frank Nicely, R-Strawberry Plains, which allows handgun-carry permit holders to bring their handguns into state parks.

Also approved by the panel was House Bill 961, sponsored by Rep. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, which would allow permit holders to take their handguns into state wildlife management areas and refuges.

Both bills now go to the House Finance Committee. They have yet to start moving in the Senate.

A bill allowing permit holders to carry their handguns into restaurants serving alcohol until 11 p.m. — provided they do not drink — was delayed for technical reasons.

Meanwhile, a House subcommittee also approved House Bill 960, sponsored by Rep. Harry Tindell, D-Knoxville. The bill originally allowed permit holders to bring their handguns into local, state and federal parks but was amended to allow local governments to decide whether to allow permit holders to carry their firearms into all or parts of local parks.