NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee's gun laws have left many permit owners with a lot of questions and concerns about where they can bring their guns.
Tuesday, another opinion from Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery came into the picture and may not have helped the situation.
It said, people can't bring guns to a church, any religious entity or a private school, if that property is being used for a school event.
This comes after another opinion on the guns-in-parks law that said, local municipalities can't ban guns at large events or venues, like Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville, if those venues are owned by the city or county.
However, Metro still plans to ban guns at Ascend Amphitheater, Nissan Stadium and Bridgestone Arena because city officials argue the opinion doesn't accurately reflect the intention of the law. This is one of many situations that have left permit holders confused.
“Regardless of where you are on if you should be able to carry a gun on school grounds, the law as to whether you can or can’t should be easy to understand,” said John Harris, Executive Director of the Tennessee Firearms Association.
Harris said despite a Republican Super Majority in the state legislature, the situation has become even more frustrating.
“They are allowing the confusion to perpetuate, and the question is why?” said Harris. “Is it because they don’t feel enough pressure to change it? They don’t think it’s confusing? Or they want it confusing? We don’t know the answer.”
In addition to the Attorney General’s opinions, Governor Bill Haslam signed the controversial guns in parks bill in April that allows permit holders to have guns in public parks as long as a school-sanctioned event isn't underway.
Lawmakers are expected to address the guns-in-parks law when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.
