A bill that would lower the age to carry a handgun in Tennessee from 21 to 18 passed the House on Thursday.

Bill sponsor Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County, said that House Bill 1735 is about protecting the constitutional rights of 18-year-olds who can vote and enlist in the military. The bill passed by a 64-28 vote.

Tennessee 18-year-olds currently can possess firearms but they cannot carry a handgun unless they are honorably discharged or retired from the U.S. military or they are a member on active duty. Tennessee law allows for permitless carry for those ages 21 and older and, last year, it was sued over the restriction for ages 18, 19 and 20 by the Firearms Policy Coalition.

The companion bill, Senate Bill 2291, is currently in the general subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“This is strictly to get our law in compliance with the Constitution of the United States of America,” Todd said.

Tennessee House Passes Bill to Lower Age for Carrying Handgun from 21 to 18 – Tennessee Star

Good! Let’s see if the Senate gets its stuff together and send a bill to Governor Lee.

What I would love to see is State funding for Basic Carry Training, including (most definitely) the legal aspects of Self Defense. I believe that combination of On-Line instruction and a one-day range class would be very helpful to instruct the kids into not being idiots with a gun and that they will be now playing in the mayor leagues where the consequences are measured in time spent behind bars.

And, of course, this would be a highly-encouraged but non-mandated instruction.