On August 22, 2025, a three judge panel completely struck down as unconstitutional two of Tennessee’s more egregious gun control statutes – one which makes it a crime to carry a firearm with the “intent to go armed” and another which banned carrying certain weapons in parks, greenways, campgrounds and other recreational areas. This ruling was a huge win for Tennesseans. The ruling is against the State of Tennessee and applies throughout the state – not just in one county. There is no need for an appeal – unless what you are trying to do is to reverse the trial court’s ruling.

On August 26, 2025, Senator Brent Taylor issued a letter to Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti in which Sen. Taylor supported the three-judge panel ruling against the State striking down the “intent to go armed” and “parks” statutes and encouraging that the Attorney General not appeal the ruling.   Other state legislators, including Rep. Jody Barrett (video) and Rep. Clay Doggett have likewise taken to social media to support the trial court ruling and speak out in support of the constitutional rights of Tennesseans by opposing any appeal.

Since that time, Senators Joey Hensley, Page Walley and Ed Jackson have also issued letters to the Attorney General insisting that the state honor the trial court’s ruling and that the Attorney General not appeal this decision. In addition, House members Monty Fritts, Michelle Reneau and Todd Warner have also signed a letter calling for the state to honor the court’s ruling.

Indeed, honoring the ruling, one would have thought, was the only correct course of action given that several legislators have filed bills over the last two decades to repeal this same statutes and frequently made reference that the existing laws violate the Second Amendment. Accepting this trial court ruling yields clarify and would more clearly allow the law to settle now so that the Tennessee Legislature can consider the constitutional boundaries on its authority when it returns to work in January 2026 and can then consider what constitutionally permissible options, if any, it should consider.

Thank you to these Legislators who have stood in support of your constitutionally protected rights. It also begs the question of why are the others remaining silent or in at least one instance openly calling for an appeal.