Tennessee Senate speaker: Guns-in-parking lots bill goes too far

Thursday, March 29, 2012

photo Ron Ramsey

NASHVILLE - Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey today said bills eliminating the rights of businesses and schools to block people from storing guns in locked vehicles on their parking lots "go too far."

The Senate Judiciary this week approved the measure, allowing anyone with a state-issued handgun carry permit or anyone over age 21 with a state-issued hunting license to keep their weapons out of sight in their locked vehicles parked on private and public parking lots.

Ramsey, R-Blountville, told reporters he considers himself "the biggest Second Amendment rights person that's ever lived," noting he sponsored the original handgun-carry permit law and has fought for extensions of where permit holders can go armed.

The bill needs to apply only to hangun permit holders, Ramsey said.

"And I'm still one that [thinks] there should be some form of posting, I've still not settled on exactly what yet, that allows certain businesses to post [against guns on] their parking lot."