Tennessee Bill: Deadly Force for Property Defense

0:00It's April 24. This is U.S. News Today. Your AI-powered source for national news. Tennessee lawmakers just greenlit a bill, letting people use deadly force to guard their property from break-ins, theft, or arson. The Republican-led House passed its 62-24 on Thursday, right after the Senate approved it 21-5. Now it lands on Governor Bill Lee's desk. The measure comes from Representative Kip Kapli and Senator Joey Hensley, both Republicans. It brought in self-defense rules so you can pull the trigger if you truly believe it's the only way to stop the crime, without putting yourself or others in serious danger. Supporters argue folks shouldn't freeze while crooks torch their barns or steel years of hard work, especially if insurance won't cover the loss. On the flip side, critics like Representative Justin Pearson warn it drops the bar too low, basically okaying killings over things instead of lives. The bill sets clear boundaries like no shooting if the intruders turned away.

1:00Officials might even update training for gun permits to reflect this shift. With Lee backing gun rights hard, eyes are on his signature. This can reshape property defense down south for good.