NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Gov. Bill Lee has signed a bill to allow Tennesseans 21 and older to carry a handgun without a carry permit.
The governor announced that he signed the permitless carry bill Thursday afternoon.
“I signed constitutional carry today because it shouldn’t be hard for law-abiding Tennesseans to exercise their #2A rights,” Lee said in a tweet. “Thank you members of the General Assembly and @NRA for helping get this done.”
The legislation will also allow those 18 and older who have been honorably discharged from the military or are on active duty and have completed basic training to carry. It also increases the punishments for certain gun crimes.
The bill was backed by Lee, who listed constitutional carry as one of his priorities for this year.
Some law enforcement organizations, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Tennessee Sheriff’s Association, opposed the legislation.
The new law will take effect July 1.
