Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has filed a notice of appeal following a Gibson County court ruling that invalidated two key state gun laws. The overturned laws included one that banned firearms in public parks and another referred to as the “intent to go armed” law. The AG’s office argues that the ruling created unnecessary confusion and safety concerns for citizens and law enforcement alike.
One of the overturned laws prohibited carrying a firearm in state or municipal parks unless the person held a handgun carry permit. The other law criminalized carrying a weapon with the intent to use it, even without malicious intent. The court deemed the “intent to go armed” statute too broad, allowing arbitrary enforcement by law officers who might stop anyone carrying a gun and charge them simply based on presumptions.
Skrmetti’s office defended the laws as vital to public safety. He gave examples illustrating why the laws should remain in place, such as preventing a child from bringing a semiautomatic rifle to a youth sports game or stopping an intoxicated person from walking through crowded areas with a long gun. The appeal seeks clarity and consistency in the law for both the public and police officers.
State Senator London Lamar, D-Memphis, strongly supported the appeal. She argued that overturning such safety laws would leave law enforcement without the tools needed to respond to immediate threats such as a loaded weapon near a school or park until it is too late. Lamar stressed that Tennessee cannot compromise public safety in favor of political pressures and emphasized how these laws help Tennesseans feel safe in their communities.