Tennessee Gov. Bill HaslamNASHVILLE – Gov. Bill Haslam and the Senate and House speakers want to narrow the scope of proposed legislation that lets workers keep guns in their vehicles on public and private employers’ parking lots.
The National Rifle Association has dubbed the bill the “employee safe commute” act. The Tennessee Firearms Association also backs the legislation.
“The current bill that’s out there we feel like is a little overly broad, and we’d like to see it addressed some more, which I think is in the process,” said Haslam, a Republican.
Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, said the bill should have exclusions for secure parking lots, such as those that are fenced. Only workers with handgun-carry permits should be able to bring weapons on company property, he said.
“I understand private property rights, and I understand certain parking lots where they shouldn’t be,” said Ramsey, who sponsored the state’s original handgun-carry permit law. “But there are some almost-public parking lots” where permit holders should be able to keep guns in their cars.