New proposed legislation targets rising gun thefts from cars in Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Several Tennessee cities are among the top in the nation for the rate of stolen guns from cars, and two Democratic lawmakers hope their bill they plan to introduce next legislative session will help.

According to the gun safety group, Everytown, Memphis leads the nation for the rate of guns stolen from cars , with Chattanooga falling closely behind at 12th, and Nashville ranking 13th.

“The fact that we have a glut of stolen weapons on Tennessee streets makes everyone less safe, and let’s be clear — this is a problem we in the legislature created,” Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) said.

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In 2013, the General Assembly passed the “Guns in Trunks” law, which allowed Tennesseans to carry and store their firearms in their cars, locked in the trunk, glovebox, or other container attached to the car. Since then, TBI data shows gun thefts from cars have skyrocketed.

According to TBI data, in 2013, 46 guns were stolen from cars in the state. Less than 10 years later in 2022, the number of guns stolen from cars jumped to more than 5,300.

“This is one of those few places where there is an obvious, clear cause and effect of a law that was passed by the General Assembly and an effect that is felt in every one of our communities, and it’s time for the legislature to do something about that,” Yarbro said.

Sen. Yarbro and Rep. Caleb Hemmer (D-Nashville) announced plans Wednesday to introduce new safe storage gun legislation this upcoming legislative session that would reiterate where gun owners are required to store their guns in their cars under the “Guns in Trunks” law — out of sight and locked away.

Last legislative session, Yarbro and Hemmer introduced a safe storage bill that would have allowed local municipalities to regulate the storage of guns in cars, however, it failed in the Republican-dominated General Assembly.

Despite that, Yarbro and Hemmer told reporters Wednesday that Republicans have previously supported similar legislation, and they hope conservative lawmakers will get on board with their newest proposal.

“We have a lot of fights over gun policy and gun legislation, but this is the one where everyone shakes their head,” Rep. Hemmer said. “We know it’s a problem, and like Sen. Yarbro said, we know what the solution is.”

Yarbro and Hemmer said their bill isn’t about punishing law-abiding citizens but enforcing the law on the books.

“There’s nothing about actually enforcing the law that would do any damage to responsible, law-abiding gun owners. That’s what I get every time we talk about this issue, ‘Why do you want to punish the law-abiding gun owners?’ and the answer is, I don’t. I want the gun owners to abide by the law,” Yarbro said.

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The bill would also allow judges to order gun safety training for those who fail to report their stolen guns. Yarbro and Hemmer plan to introduce the bill during the next legislative session which begins in Jan. 2025.

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