May 29, 2020

Governor Lee and Honorable Members of the Tennessee Legislature:

As leaders with business interests in Tennessee, we write in opposition to HB 2817/SB 2671 t​hat
would allow people to carry loaded handguns in public without a permit, background check, or safety
training​.

We fully support Second Amendment rights and have not opposed legislation to responsibly expand
rights of Tennessee gun owners until now. However, we believe permitless carry weakens the ability
of law enforcement officials to protect the public’s safety and therefore threatens the vibrancy of our
economy.

As you know, currently, to legally carry a loaded handgun in public in Tennessee, a person must get a
permit – which requires a background check and completion of firearm safety training. Permitless
carry would mark a major policy shift in Tennessee by eliminating the requirement that someone
obtain a permit before carrying a loaded handgun in public. We oppose this change for the following
reasons:

1)​ ​Costs too much. ​The Fiscal Review Committee estimates the cost burden to the taxpayer at
$18.5 million every year. ​The majority of the money will go to incarcerate more people for longer
sentences for certain gun crimes. We already have too many citizens incarcerated. The Governor’s
own Criminal Justice Investment Task Force has said, “Over the past 10 years, Tennessee’s
incarceration rate has risen to 10 percent above the national average, and its communities are no
safer for it.” Especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this money could be used to provide
economic relief to our communities and businesses, support rural hospitals, or expand broadband in
rural areas so new business will go there.

​ )​ ​Too risky. ​Individuals carrying without a permit will be less likely to follow Tennessee law because
2
they will no longer be trained on where they are allowed to carry firearms. The absence of this
training will increase the burden on business owners who will have to address issues like
unintentional discharges, increased police interactions, or confronting armed individuals who fail to
obey signage.

​ )​ ​Law enforcement opposes. ​Law enforcement officials from all corners of our state have publicly
3
opposed this legislation. We cannot support legislation when the people charged with public safety
are against it. Law enforcement will be stripped of a vital tool they need to tell the difference between
law abiding gun carriers and prohibited people. Business depends on law enforcement and we should
listen to them. We are also having difficulty recruiting police officers in parts of our state and
permitless carry will make that more difficult.

​ )Tennessee as an outlier. ​Permitless would make Tennessee one of only 16 states where it is
4
legal to carry concealed handguns in public without a permit.In the majority of states, including in the
Southeast, a person must acquire a permit in order to legally carry a concealed handgun in public. It’s
important that we not put ourselves at a disadvantage with states and metro areas where safety is a
priority.

5)​ ​Solution in search of a problem. ​In business, we resolve problems with practical, sensible
solutions. What problem does this bill solve? Polling shows that large majorities of Tennesseans,
including gun owners, support permits and over 650,000 Tennesseans have carry permits. Most
people agree that those carrying concealed handguns in public should have a permit — that’s how
they show that they know how to use a gun and are responsible. Simply put, a strong permitting
system is an essential part of responsible gun ownership.

Tennessee has a devastating gun problem right now: The FBI rated Tennessee the 3rd most
dangerous state in the nation. We are 8th in firearm homicide and 4th for firearm mortality for young
people 19 and younger. If we want to keep our communities safe and economy vibrant, we must
strengthen our gun laws, not make it easier for persons with no safety training or background check
to carry in public.

As citizens, parents, and business leaders, we encourage you to oppose HB2817/SB 2671.

Sincerely,

Ward Archer
President,​ Contemporary Media, Inc.
Memphis

Timothy A. Barker
Chef & Proprietor,​ Edge Alley and MidPointe from Edge Alley
Memphis

Ronald Belz
President/CEO,​ Belz Enterprises
Memphis

Paul Berz (retired)

Founder,​ Highland Capital
Memphis

Nathan Brand
Chef/Owner,​ Timber! Restaurant
Johnson City

Keith D. Brewer
Educational Consultant
Jasper
Lance B. Brock
Owner,​ Climb Nashville
Nashville

Lisa Buckner
Owner,​ InsideOut Gym
Memphis

Karen B. Carrier
Chef/Owner,​ The Beauty Shop restaurant and Another Roadside Attraction Catering
Memphis

Andrew F. Cates
CEO,​ RVC Outdoor Destinations
Memphis

G. Staley Cates
Co-Chairman,​ Southeastern Asset Management, Inc.
Memphis

BJ Chester-Tamayo
Chef/Owner,​ Alcenia's Restaurant
Memphis

Darrell T. Cobbins
President/Principal Broker,​ Universal Commercial Real Estate
Memphis

Melanie Cochran
Co-Owner,​ The Wild Cow
Nashville

William Cochran
Owner,​ Evins Mill
Nashville

Mike Cody
Senior Partner,​ Burch, Porter & Johnson, PLC
Memphis
Kevin Crumbo
Finance Director,​ Metro Nashville Government
Nashville

John M. Daniel
HR Executive
Memphis

Karen Davis
Owner,​ K Davis Travels
Nashville

Sara Davis
Owner,​ Synergy Farms, Inc.
Nashville

John Deane
Owner,​ Wildwood Resort & Marina
Granville

Charles L. Ewing, Sr.

President,​ Ewing Moving Service
Memphis

Jef Feibelman
Senior Partner,​ Burch, Porter & Johnson, PLC
Memphis

Rick Ferguson
Head of School, retired,​ St. George's Independent School
Memphis

Frank Garrison
Senior Advisor,​ C-III Capital Partners
Nashville

Kathy Buckman Gibson

CEO & President,​ KBG Technologies, Inc.
Memphis
Ross Glotzbach
CEO,​ Southeastern Asset Management, Inc.
Memphis

Frank T. Grant
CEO,​ Grant Ventures
Nashville

Stephen Hacket
Founder/Owner,​ Hackett Technical Media
Memphis

Cynthia Ham
Founder,​ Cynthia Ham Interior Design
Memphis

Carolyn Hardy
CEO,​ Chism Hardy Investments, LLC
Bartlett

Mason Hawkins
Chairman,​ Southeastern Asset Management, Inc.
Memphis

William Hayley
Executive, retired,​ IBM
Memphis

Daniel Heller
Real Estate Developer
Nashville

Henry G. Herrod, MD
Dean Emeritus,​ University of TN Health Sciences Center
Memphis

Mark Higginbotham
Founder,​ Memphis in Motion
Lakeland
Kevin Kane
President and CEO,​ Memphis Tourism
Memphis

Michael King
Owner,​ Monell's Restaurants
Nashville

Lynette Kraft
Owner,​ Barbershop Theater
Nashville

Natalie Kurylo
Owner,​ Heliotropic Healing
Knoxville

Hayden Lait
Attorney & Mediator,​ TN Academy of Mediators & Arbitrators
Memphis

Bill Landers
Consultant
Memphis

Sabine Langer
Owner/CEO,​ Global Cafe
Memphis

Deborah Levine
Editor-in-Chief,​ American Diversity Report
Chattanooga

Rod Lindsey
Co-Owner,​ Malone Studios
Nashville

Robert L. Lofton
Owner,​ The Lofton Agency
Memphis
Bea Lurie
Owner & Founder,​ Women Repair Zone
Chattanooga

David Macias
President,​ Thirty Tigers
Nashville

Jennifer Derryberry Mann

Owner,​ Nurture Nashville Yoga
Nashville

Jay Martin
Founder,​ Juice Plus
Memphis

Bert Mathews
CEO,​ The Mathews Company
Nashville

John McQuiston
Senior Counsel,​ Evans Petree, PC
Memphis

Jill Melton
Editor & Founder,​ Edible Magazine
Nashville

Gina J. Mendello
Owner,​ CPR Entertainment
Nashville

Jeff Moore
Owner,​ Moore Enterprises
Counce

Thomas Morales
CEO,​ Tom Kats Hospitality
Nashville
Ken Neill
Publisher Emeritus,​ Contemporary Media, Inc.
Memphis

Jonathan D. Nessle
Owner,​ The Ornamentor
Chattanooga

Charlie Newman
Senior Partner,​ Burch, Porter & Johnson, PLC
Memphis

Tim Ozgener
President & CEO,​ OZ Arts Nashville
Nashville

David Porter
CEO/Songwriter/Record Producer,​ Made in Memphis Entertainment
Memphis

Randy Rayburn
Owner,​ Music City Hospitality Consultants
Nashville

Chandrasekhar C. Reddy
Owner,​ Cumberland Plastic Corporation
Nashville

Todd Richardson
President,​ Crosstown Concourse
Memphis

Howard Robertson, Jr.

President & CEO,​ TRUST Marketing
Memphis

Jenny E. Rogers
Owner,​ Welcome Valley Village
Benton
Ellen Rolfes
President,​ Ellen Rolfes & Associates, Inc.
Memphis

Jeff Sanford
Consultant,​ Jeff Sanford Consulting
Memphis

Lisa Sorenson & Scott Schimmel

Owners,​ Bliss Home
Knoxville, Nashville

Diane Seloff
Chief Integration Officer,​ Carebridge Health
Nashville

Rebecca & Jason Severs

Founders/Owners,​ Bari Ristorante e Enoteca
Memphis

Gary Shorb
Executive Director,​ The Urban Child Institute
Memphis

Doug Smith
Founder, retired,​ TD Capital Management, LLC
Memphis

Lisa J. Smith
Chef/Owner,​ Big Fatty's Catering
Knoxville

Gary Sysak
Senior Executive, retired,​ Unilever
Memphis

James Tiller
Owner,​ James Tiller Law
Nashville
Blanchard Tual
Attorney ,​ Tual & Graves, PC
Memphis

Calvin Turley
President,​ Turley Cotton Co.
Memphis

Henry Turley
CEO,​ Henry Turley Company
Memphis

Breck Walker
Travel Consultant
Nashville

Stryker Warren, Jr.

Consultant
Nashville

Julia Whipple
Franchise Owner,​ ValuTeachers
Knoxville

Marcus Whitney
CEO & Founder,​ Health First
Nashville

Archie Willis, III

President,​ ComCap Partners
Memphis

Jessica Wilson
Owner,​ Summer Fields Farm
Monteagle

McLean Wilson
Principal,​ Kemmons Wilson Companies
Memphis