NASHVILLE – House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, on Wednesday announced creation of a seven-member Republican Caucus Firearms Issues Task Force to study state gun laws and “identify if any changes may need to be made.”
In a news release, McCormick said the task force “will study ways we can protect the Second Amendment rights of Tennesseans and will make recommendations to our majority about good public policy we all can support.”
He said it amounts to a “worthwhile effort to streamline the process and build consensus within the General Assembly.”
The panel is packed with advocates of expanding Tennessee handgun permit holders’ ability to go armed in public places.
Creation of the group comes after majority Republicans drew considerable fire from a usual ally, the Tennessee Firearms Association, for not passing several bills expanding handgun permit holders’ privileges.