House Bill 7056, also known as Senate Bill 7049, amends Tennessee law regarding stalking by introducing a new provision related to the use of semi-automatic rifles. Specifically, it adds a subdivision to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-315(c)(1), which states that if a person purchases or attempts to use a semi-automatic rifle in the course of stalking, it constitutes an additional factor in the offense. The bill defines a "semi-automatic rifle" as a repeating rifle that uses energy from a fired cartridge to extract the spent case and chamber the next round, requiring a separate trigger function for each shot.

The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2023, emphasizing the state's commitment to addressing the issue of stalking and the potential dangers posed by the use of firearms in such cases. This legislative change aims to enhance the legal framework surrounding stalking offenses and provide law enforcement with additional tools to combat this behavior.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-17-315(c)(1), 39-17-315