Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
The Tennessee General Assembly has passed a bill to remove the criminal offense for carrying a non-lethal self-defense weapon like pepper spray on a public college campus.
The legislation has been titled the “Laken Riley Act of 2024” to honor its namesake, a nursing student at the Augusta University College of Nursing in Athens, Georgia, who was reportedly found dead in February near Lake Herrick with “visible injuries” after going for a run at the university’s intramural fields.
It was later found that her murderer was an illegal alien, who had been previously cited for theft and shoplifting but was released.
House Bill 1909 (HB1909) / Senate Bill 1868 (SB1868) “specifies that it is not a criminal offense for an adult person to carry or posses pepper spray, a taser, or another similar device for purposes of self-defense” while on property owned, operated or in use by a public college or university board of trustees, regents, or the administration directors of that public college or university.
This includes non-lethal weapons like pepper gel, mace, and stun guns.
This legislation also prohibits public colleges, universities and other educational institutions from prohibiting staff members, employees, students and any other adults lawfully present on the premises from carrying these non-lethal weapons.
Public colleges and universities will still be allowed to prohibit the carrying of these devices in buildings where armed security is provided or “where such carrying is prohibited by contract” as well as on the grounds of any pre-K-12 school located on its campus.
HB1909, sponsored by Representative Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61), passed in the House of Representatives on March 3rd, 2024, by a 78-17 vote.
SB1868, sponsored by Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 28 ), passed in the Senate on March 28th, 2024, by a vote of 26-2.
During the entire legislative process, only Democrats are recorded as voting NO on the bill.
This legislation will now be signed by the Speaker of the House and the Speaker of the Senate before being sent to Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) for his signature.
The governor can choose to sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.
HB1909/SB1868 will take effect on July 1st of this year.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee.
You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
