Tennessee state representative Gerald McCormickNASHVILLE – House Republicans’ firearms task force will continue despite the arrest last week of its chairman on charges of DUI and possessing a loaded .38-caliber gun in his vehicle while intoxicated.
Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, said he decided the group, which is looking at expansion of Tennessee’s handgun-carry permit laws, would go on after House Speaker Pro Tempore Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, who is the panel’s vice chair, voiced interest in taking over as chairman.
“I just decided to keep it going,” said McCormick, who weighed over the weekend whether to disband the panel in order to focus more on job-related issues. “I still say it’s not going to be a top legislative priority by any means.”
The former chairman, Rep. Curry Todd, R-Memphis, resigned from the post after his arrest.
McCormick said Todd’s situation also shouldn’t interfere with legislative discussions about expanding places that permit holders can carry their weapons.