[This is the unedited body of a social media post on August 6, 2025, by Tennessee Rep. Chris Todd]

During the nearby search for the fugitive over the past few days, with camera sightings showing he definitely held a long gun with a large drum magazine, like many of you I took precautions. As you saw on posts & news stories, our brave law enforcement officers did the same.

As I went to mow a few acres late yesterday, I even considered strapping on a short rifle to equal the playing field, if he found his way onto my farm.

My thoughts immediately went to TN law and a fundamental, unconstitutional flaw it holds that most folks are unaware of. If I had taken that action, I, unlike our officers, would be in violation of state law.

“How in the world?,” you ask.

Since just 1989, our state law prohibits any law-abiding citizen from carrying a loaded firearm (that is not a handgun) outside his/her home or vehicle, unless they are hunting or target practicing. You heard that correctly. In TENNESSEE of all places, you are committing a crime to exercise your God-given right to self defense with a “firearm,” simply because it is not a handgun.

I have fought for 7 yrs to change that to no avail. Many simply don’t feel “comfortable” with you exercising what our founders intended to protect. Court after court after court has clearly upheld the right to keep & bear ARMS, not just pistols.

Incidents like this murderer on the loose in our back yards once again show the wisdom of our founders for preventing Gov’t from trampling on our rights. It’s high time we remove those infringements and act like FREE citizens instead of subjects!