The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to drop the permitless gun-carry age to 18 from 21, aligning Tennessee with a pending court order.
The panel endorsed the legislation by Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntingdon, on a 7-2 vote after amending the measure to exclude “long guns.” Removal of rifles from the legislation puts it in conflict with the House version of the bill and could force a compromise.
Stevens, an attorney, argued that the right to bear arms is not granted by the government.
“It’s something we’re born with as Americans, and it’s to be preserved. It’s for self-defense. That’s not a right we’re given, it’s a right we have, we’re given it by God alone,” Stevens said. “We have to protect life, and that’s consistent. It’s our number one duty as legislators.”