Bill Haslam "Grows" In Office

Once a member of a virulent anti-gun lobby, Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslem says that he favors open carry.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam told a Nashville meeting of the Tennessee Firearms Association that if lawmakers abolished the handgun-carry permit system and allowed people to go armed without permits, he would sign it into law.

The TFA’s executive director, Nashville lawyer John Harris, confirmed Tuesday night that an audio clip of Haslam’s exchange with TFA members on the issue at a forum Monday night was accurate and that his organization will likely push for repealing the carry-permit soon.