Tenn. Senate votes against closing access to handgun permits

A proposal to prevent access to the names of people who have handgun permits failed 14-13 in the Tennessee Senate, the AP reported. A compromise amendment that would have still closed the database but allowed some inspection of records also failed.

A measure to close access to the names of people holding state permits to carry loaded handguns failed last night in the state Senate. Opponents called the vote a victory for open government.

The proposal sponsored by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville was defeated 14-13 in the Senate when it failed to get a majority vote. Norris didn't say whether he would try to revive the proposal, H.B. 0959, which passed the House 83-12 last month.

"This is not a gun bill, it's an open-records bill," said Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle, D-Memphis. "This is about your open records and your open government. It has nothing to do with guns."

More here.