An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
No Self Defense Allowed!
TN Attorney General says landlords can ban tenants’ guns
Attorney General Bob Cooper says landlords can ban their tenants from bringing firearms into their property even if they have handgun carry permits.
Cooper said in an opinion released Wednesday that landlords can either include a firearms ban in the lease or through signs posted on the property.
But Cooper ads that violators couldn’t face criminal charges if the landlord doesn’t post signs.
The opinion was requested by Republican Rep. Tony Shipley of Kingsport. Legal opinions issued by the attorney general indicate his office’s interpretation of the law, but unlike court opinions, they aren’t binding.
In other words, the state AG just told landlords to put up a sign basically stating:
NOTICE:
TENANTS UNARMED!
THUGS WELCOME!
United States Constitution – 2nd Amendment: A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Constitution of the State of Tennessee – Article 1, Section 26: That the citizens of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.
Obviously, I’m no constitutional scholar, but honestly, I don’t think you need to be to understand either of these. For any landlord to refuse to allow law abiding citizens to own weapons on a rental property doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I’d see that as a violation. For the state AG to say it’s ok? Well, maybe he should rethink his ‘agenda’.
