Memphis Police Department director Michael Rallings, would really like to ban handguns from cars in the crime-ridden city. But Tennessee has a robust state preemption law, so he’s appealing to Shelby County’s state legislators for help.
The legislative delegation members are the folks who could make changes. But they also know the gun lobby is powerful in the state capital and it’s not likely that many lawmakers from other parts of Tennessee care about what Shelby County wants.
“It’s going to be a tough road to hoe,” says Shelby County State Representative Dwayne Thompson (D-Cordova) “… because there’s the NRA and the Tennessee Firearms Association. I’m assuming they will push back if we submit this.”
They probably will, says State Representative Antonio Parkinson (D-Raleigh), but it won’t stop them from trying.
“We’re going to go in and shoot our shot – no pun intended,” Representative Parkinson said. “We’re going to go in there and try to make the best of it and see what we can change.”
– Mike Matthews in Law enforcement wants to ban handguns in cars. State legislators say don’t hold your breath