TBI director says current gun permit system working, has concerns about permitless carry

Joel Ebert
Nashville Tennessean

The director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is worried a proposal from Gov. Bill Lee to allow residents to carry weapons without first obtaining a permit will create public safety concerns.

In an interview with The Tennessean on Tuesday, TBI Director David Rausch said he has concerns about Lee's bill, which seeks to allow for both open and concealed carrying of handguns for Tennesseans who are 21 and older.

"We understand what the mindset is and what they're attempting to do and we appreciate that," he said. "We are Second Amendment proponents as well, but we're cautious when it comes to public safety."

Rausch praised the state's current permitting system, which he said assures people who are carrying firearms go through a background check and training. 

"We think that having some way of checking to approve a person is the best way to do that with guns," he said. "That's where we stand philosophically."

Rausch said he's shared his concerns about the bill with the governor.

Permitless carry:Prosecutors, law enforcement come out against Gov. Lee's gun proposal

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch, center.

Asked if he would be working against the governor's proposal, Rausch said the agency would focus on educating. "We'll be educating our legislators on our concerns," he said.

The TBI director's comments are his first public remarks about the governor's legislation since it was introduced less than three weeks ago. 

Rausch's comments diverge from his counterpart with the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Last week, Col. Dereck Stewart told The Tennessean the permitless carry legislation would not present any additional problems for state troopers. 

"Our troopers are well-trained and disciplined and they handle issues like this every day," he said during a brief interview.

In addition to upending Tennessee's gun permit system, the governor's proposed legislation increases the penalty for stealing a firearm to a felony, an offense that is currently a misdemeanor in Tennessee. It will also mandate a six-month incarceration sentence for the crime, up from the current 30-day requirement. 

Additionally, the bill enhances sentences for when a gun is stolen from a car, as well as for providing a handgun to a juvenile and unlawful possession of a handgun by a felon.

Lee's legislation is set to be discussed in a House committee Tuesday afternoon.

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Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.