Republican House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick of Chattanooga signals his colleagues on House floor session in Nashville about how to vote on a motion on a bill about a bill to allow the state’s nearly 400,000 handgun carry permits to store firearms in the vehicles no matter where they are parked. The House later approved the bill, sending it to the governor’s desk.NASHVILLE – Republican Gov. Bill Haslam “will likely” sign legislation letting handgun-carry permit holders keep firearms in their cars on most parking lots, a spokesman said Thursday.
“The governor will review this bill, like he does all bills, when it comes to his desk, but he will likely sign it,” Haslam spokesman David Smith said in an email.
The House passed the bill 72-22 on Thursday. The Senate passed it Feb. 12.
The bill affects the nearly 400,000 permit holders in Tennessee as well as permit holders who visit the state.
It protects businesses from liability in case of a workplace shooting, but it doesn’t protect workers who bring guns if employers ban them, some lawmakers have said. But businesses, schools, universities, day care centers, churches and others would have no say about visitors or others lawfully on their lots.