Tennessee legislature is considering a bill that will expand the definition of Law enforcement officers when it comes to certain firearm permit holders.

The bill is HB 2554/SB2523, and it is raising eyebrows. The bill was introduced on January 3.

It would expand the definition of “law enforcement officer” to include a person who has been issued an enhanced handgun carry permit; provided that the license is not suspended, revoked, or expired, for purposes of authority to carry a firearm under certain circumstances.

Experts said that could be a problem because there’s a considerable difference between enhanced handgun carry permit holders and Tennessee law enforcement officers.

“There’s a huge contrast between the number of hours of training,” Melvin Brown, a retired Metro Police Lieutenant, said.

Brown said eight hours of training is required for an enhanced handgun carry permit. Officers and deputies get 12-24 weeks at the training academy and an additional 40 hours annually.

“And included in that 40 hours is eight hours of firearms training qualifications,” Brown said.

“What if you have to be a sworn law enforcement officer to carry a firearm in a state courthouse,” ” Brown said. “Is this going to expand it to where anyone with 8 hours of training and an enhanced carry permit can carry a loaded firearm into a state courthouse?”