NASHVILLE – Gov. Phil Bredesen today took issue with Republican Bill Haslam’s stance that he would sign into law legislation allowing Tennesseans to carry handguns without a state-issued carry permit.
“As I said, just because the Legislature does something stupid doesn’t mean the governor has to fall in line with that,” Bredesen, a Democrat is who term-limited, told reporters. “Part of the reason you elect governors and executives is to bring a different perspective to these things.”
Haslam, who leads Democratic rival Mike McWherter in polls, told a gun-rights group this week that while he would not bring a bill opening up the handgun-carry law to the General Assembly, he would sign such a measure if it came to his desk.
McWherter has questioned Haslam’s comments, saying, “eliminating the permit process would allow anyone with a gun free reign in our communities and neighborhoods. I am surprised that Bill Haslam, who fought alongside Mayor Bloomberg to remove guns from the streets, is now favoring the carry of handguns with reckless abandon.”
The state’s estimated 300,000 handgun-carry permit holders currently are required to undergo criminal background checks and gun-training before they are eligible to obtain a permit.