Legislation sponsored by State Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, that will make it less expensive for gun owners to safely store their firearms has officially been signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee.

House Bill 761 incentivizes the safe storage of firearms by exempting the purchase of gun safes and gun locking devices from state retail sales tax in Tennessee for a one-year period. The bill passed with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate in the 112th General Assembly.

“We encourage all law-abiding Tennesseans who possess firearms to do so in a safe and responsible manner,” Sparks said. “This legislation makes it more affordable for our gun owners to create and keep safer environments for their children and families and help prevent firearm thefts, and I am pleased to see this gun-safe tax exemption soon take effect in our state.”

Senate sponsor Sen. Sarah Kyle, R-Memphis, said, “Responsible firearm storage saves lives; that’s what this law is all about. Every gunowner who doesn’t have a safe or locking device should take advantage of this tax cut and purchase equipment to keep everyone in their home safe.”

“I would like to thank Rep. Sparks and the state legislature for passing this important tax relief for the citizens of Tennessee,” Mark Brasfield, owner of Nashville Safe House said. “I feel it will give gun owners an incentive to secure their firearms in a responsible manner.”

The gun-safe tax relief will take effect beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2022.