Some TN Permit Holders are Now Felons

Plain and simple, Tennessee's self-defense law was in my opinion much better before the NRA endorsed legislation was pushed through with the bi-partisan help of Republicans and Democrats in the Tennessee legislature many of which, in my belief, simply did not understand existing law and therefore tried to change it in perceived but misplaced need for a "castle doctrine" in Tennessee although we have had one for many years...

The effect of the new law is that now even non-violent felons are prohibited from possessing any firearms and also from buying firearms (TCA 39-17-1316) and also from having a handgun carry permit (TCA 39-17-1351) even if they have previously had their full rights of citizenship restored by a Tennessee court. They cannot hunt with a firearm. They cannot have a firearm in their home for self-defense. They cannot work as an armed guard. They cannot work in an armed law enforcement position.

They are unindicted felons instantly on July 1, 2008 whose names are in many state databases as firearms owners.

The title-linked post is a few months old--it's the best substitute I could find for a Tennessee Firearms Association email that I don't see posted yet on their website. Here's the beginnning of their email:

From: "TFALAC"
To:
Subject: TFALAC Alert: ATF Opinion on Tennessee Restorations
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:43:09 +0000

Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc.
Legislative Action Committee

I have written previously about the serious problems caused to 10's of thousands in Tennessee as a result of the Tennessee General Assembly, with what I understand to be the blessings of NRA-ILA's lobbyist Heidi Keesling, changed Tennessee's criminal code effective July 1, 2008. Below is an opinion by ATF's legal division on the consequences of this adverse change in the law. This was not just "2 steps back" for the issue of gun rights but more like a football field.
Call not only your legislators to demand that this be changed but call Chris Cox at the NRA-ILA.

I can't reproduce the entire lengthy text of the balance of the email here, and suggest you contact TFA for details. If someone can come up with a link where the complete alert is posted, please share it and I'll update this post.

Anybody from NRA care to address this and give us your side?