Guns-in-parking-lot bills to get summer study

photo Democratic Tennessee Rep. Eddie Bass
Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE - The Republican-controlled House Calendar and Rules Committee late this afternoon shipped two controversial guns-in-parking lot bills off to a summer study committee today during a sometimes raucous meeting.

In theory that kills the legislation, one of which strips employers' ability to bar handgun-carry permit holders from storing their weapons in locked vehicles parked on companies and colleges parking lots.

But the sponsor of the bills, Rep. Eddie Bass, D-Prospect, said he is weighing "options" to resurrect the legislation, including an effort to try to suspend House rules and bring both measures directly to the chamber's floor.

Meanwhile, National Rifle Association lobbyist Darren LaSorte said Republican leaders "know the bills are not dead."

The second bill prevent employers from discriminating against gun owners in employment situations. That bill was sent off for summer study on a voice vote, prompting protests from Democrats, who angrily raised procedural issues.

The parking lots bill was sent to summer study on a 15-8 roll call vote. House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, and Government Operations Committee Chairman Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, both voted yes.

Most Democrats on the panel, who oppose the legislation but have been eager to push an issue that has Republicans caught between gun-rights advocates and businesses, voted no.

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