Tennessee Senate panel OKs guns in cars bill

photo The Tennessee State Capitol in downtown Nashville.
Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE - Tennessee handgun-permit holders and licensed hunters over age 21 will be allowed to store weapons in their locked vehicles parked on public lots, including schools, as well as parking lots owned by retailers, factories and other businesses under legislation moving in the Senate.

The bill, intended as a compromise between businesses and the National Rifle Association, passed the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee on a 6-1 vote with two other lawmakers abstaining.

It now goes to the Senate floor.

The bill now only excludes gun owners from keeping their vehicles at nuclear facilities.

Businesses immediately denounced the compromise.

The bill has yet to move in the House. House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, said she was not aware of what came through the Senate panel and could not immediately comment.

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