Bill > HB1292

This bill modifies Tennessee's laws regarding the handling of confiscated weapons by expanding the circumstances under which law enforcement agencies can petition a court to destroy a firearm. Currently, only inoperable or unsafe firearms could be destroyed, but this bill would allow destruction of any confiscated weapon that may have been used in a legal proceeding. Specifically, the bill amends existing law to require that weapons which are potential evidence must be retained according to evidence preservation rules, and can be sold, destroyed, recycled, or kept for law enforcement purposes between 60 and 180 days after the final legal proceeding involving the weapon. The legislation provides law enforcement agencies more flexibility in managing confiscated firearms by broadening the conditions under which weapons can be disposed of, while still maintaining guidelines for preserving potential evidence. The bill will take effect immediately upon becoming law, as determined by the Tennessee General Assembly.