JONESBOROUGH, Tenn., (WJHL) — Republican state lawmakers gathered in Jonesborough Tuesday to share their highs and lows from this year and what Tennesseans can expect during the next session in Nashville.

The panel included state Sens. Rusty Crowe and Bobby Harshbarger and state Reps. Rebecca Alexander, Monty Fritts, Tim Hicks and Todd Warner.

The panel discussed multiple topics, including reproductive rights, gun rights, their beliefs on weather manipulation and faith-based issues.

Rep. Alexander discussed funding for public schools after she voted against private school vouchers. She also discussed a lack of hospitals in Northeast Tennessee that are not associated with Ballad Health.

Crowe said he supports a court ruling that declared two Tennessee gun laws unconstitutional, one that prohibited carrying guns in public parks and another that made it illegal to carry a gun with the “intent to go armed.”

“It’s a good thing because we know the more people that carry guns honestly and legally, the safer the areas are,” he said. “The criminals are going to get them; they don’t care about the law. I think it was a good thing.”

A survey by the Tennessee Department of Labor showed that Carter County had a high unemployment rate of 4.8%.

Crowe said he has plans to tackle this.

“We just passed a bill to give $40 million to redo our entire TCAT structure, so that we can start making sure that the kids that are going into these TCAT courses are getting the courses they need pursuant and based on the market out there of hiring,” he said. “And so I think you’re going to see a lot more kids going into the trades that are very much needed out there in the community. That’s one thing.”

In regard to future plans, Crowe said he has a few big points he’d like to focus on.

“We’ve got to continue to focus on lower taxes, less government intervention, personal responsibility, faith, family, freedom and common sense,” he said. “That’s what kept Tennessee on top. If we continue that, we’re going to be in great shape.”

The next General Assembly session begins in January.