Tennessee Senate works to loosen gun restrictions with passage of ‘guns-in-trunks’ bill

While New York recently passed some of the strictest gun control measures in the country, states like Tennessee are focusing on relaxing restrictions on carrying firearms.

Tennessee's state Senate passed a "guns-in-trunks" bill on Tuesday, which would allow employees to keeps firearms in their cars while at work, reported The Tennesseean. The guns would need to be kept in either the trunk, glove compartment, or other concealed place.

Although the bill was proposed before the massacre in Newtown, Conn., supporters and detractors brought up the tragedy during debate. One state senator said that “The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” One of the chamber's seven Democrats argued, "There has to be another way."

The legislation has been opposed by schools and businesses, but that didn't stop it from passing 28-5. It will now go to the state House, where the bill's sponsor told the paper, “We’re going to pass the same version of the bill, Lord willing."

Tennessee lawmakers have recently proposed other laws, including one that purports to bar the federal government from taxing , banning or tracking firearms in the state.

In 2009 the state passed the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act, which attempted to exempt from federal regulation guns that were produced in the state and remained in the state. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), however, reminded Tennesseeans that federal law preempted the legislation.

[Image: 9 Mm Hand Gun on Shutterstock]