Do we know when its going to be voted on? I have looked everywhere for a date regarding HB0581 with only the same info saying it would be voted on this week.
Our Tennessee Knife Rights bill escaped certain defeat in the House Ways and Means Committee after the sponsor agreed to delete the repeal of the switchblade ban and 4-inch limit. The Tennessee Sheriffs' Association irrationally and emotionally attacked the portion of the bill that overturned the ban on switchblades and blades over 4 inches long. The sponsors were offered a choice by the Committee, amend the bill or we will kill it. The sponsors chose to amend the bill and SAVE the critical Knife Law Preemption aspect of the bill repealing every local knife law in Tennessee and preventing new local knife laws from being passed.
It is just as frustrating for the sponsors as it is for us to see their bill that passed the Senate overwhelmingly be amended in this respect by the Committee. However, they understand the big picture and the need to move the other important aspect of this bill, Knife Law Preemption. They are to be commended for their hard work and they are committed to coming back next year. We now know who the opposition is and we have an entire year to prepare for next year's effort.
If you are as frustrated and disappointed as we are in the sheriffs' opposition, then you should contact your local sheriff and let them know. Tennessee sheriffs are ELECTED officials and should hear from you. Find your sheriff at this link and call and email them to let them know your displeasure with their Tennessee Sheriffs' Association: http://www.tnsheriffs.com/Contact.htm
Please note that your local sheriff may not even know of the position the organization took on this commonsense bill and may not support the organization's position. So, let them know how you feel, but please be VERY RESPECTFUL and POLITE, and then ask them to inform the Sheriff's Association if they are not happy with the organization's action on this bill. If you cannot be respectful and polite, don't call or email as that will only hurt our cause.
Then you should email the Tennessee Sheriff's Association and, again, being VERY RESPECTFUL and POLITE, express your displeasure with their irrational lobbying against this commonsense bill:
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