Gov. Lee Indicates He Would Support Some Version Of A Red Flag Law
Image Credit: Gov. Bill Lee / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
“I think something we can all agree on is that a person who is a threat to themselves or a threat to others should not have access to weapons,” Governor Lee said during a press conference on April 3rd.
That statement is almost verbatim of the intent of a “Red Flag” law which is defined as a gun violence prevention law that permits a state court to order the temporary removal of firearms from a person who they believe may present a danger to others or themselves.
However, Lee also indicated that he has a keen interest in “protecting the Constitutional rights” of Tennesseans including the persons who would be affected by whatever laws are put forth.
Lee stated that he anticipates that over the next few weeks, the administration and the legislature will be looking at legislation already in place around the country to “make sure that those who are a threat to our people, to our children do not have access to weapons, protecting the Constitutional Rights of Tennesseans at the same time. That is the way forward.”
A reporter asked Lee that if he decided to go the “Red Flag Law” route and received pushback from gun advocate groups like the NRA, what would be his response.
Lee sidestepped the question by saying, “The term Red Flag Laws means a lot of things to a lot of different people… I’m looking for answers to separate dangerous people from firearms and protect Constitutional rights. It is very important that we do that. Whatever it’s called, that’s what it should accomplish.”
The reporter asked if there is a state that handles the situation in the “right way.”
Lee answered, “I think that’s one of the things we’ve got to look at over the next few days is the number of options that are out there, what are best practices and what works best for our state.”
Lee stated that he wants a “thoughtful, practical solution” that “we can agree on.”
Another reporter questioned Lee about Senator Gardenhire’s statement that he would not hear any more gun legislation in the Senate Judiciary Committee (of which Gardenhire is the Chair) during this session and Lee replied that hadn’t yet spoken to him about altering his stance.
Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge-District 5) recently joined Tennessee Democrats in voicing support for the passage of “red flag” laws in the wake of the Covenant school shooting.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25) also appears open to passing a law that could remove firearms from someone believed to be a danger to themselves or to other people.
However, Sexton has also expressed doubt over whether a red flag law could have prevented the slaying at the Christian schools, but stated that the General Assembly should be open to having a conversation about it.
McNally says he would support such a law providing there are safeguards included to protect against false reports.
The Tennessee Conservative will be following any legislation that may infringe upon Tennessean’s Constitutional rights and keep you updated.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
I will never vote for someone who supports red flag laws in Tennessee.
AND I will not either BILL LEE is not doing the job we thought he would what a shame
HE is bowing to KNEE JERK REACTION what a shame, I voted for him, and I made a VERY LARGE MISTAKE
Bill Lee has turned into a weak govenor!
Be logical or we will lose seats to Dems. Independents are the swing voters. Do you want the Dems in charge? They might totally ban guns. Stopping crazy people from buying guns isn’t a big deal and won’t stop a sane person from buying a gun.
Do you think crazy people should be able to buy guns? Maybe they can get them somehow, but a crazy person shouldn’t be legally able to buy a gun.
Don’t overreact. Be reasonable or the Dems might gain control.
Why do you repeatedly post that the “Dems might take control” so go for the red flag laws? Perhaps you have an agenda here? Hmm? As for your point about crazy people shouldn’t have guns, what is the definition of “crazy”and who decides? The psychological professions is 100% taken over by woke ideology so being a suicidal transgender is not even on their radar. A law-abiding citizen who wants to own a gun, well they would say THAT is crazy.
Buy guns? If reported properly, background checks already address the mentally ill buying guns.
“if done properly” … but red flag laws depend on “if done properly” too, don’t they?
Sad so many Republicans actually thought Lee was a Conservative.
Of course the “choices” TNGOP gave us were all bad.
The choices the TN GOP gave you? Any Bona Fide Republican is free to run for governor and many did! Did you donate time and/or money to Green, Beavers or White? Did you support, campaign for or vote for Black?
Who wins the primary is up to the grassroots Republican Primary voters. I am SO very glad Boyd didn’t win but Lee is just a slightly more conservative version of that same crowd.
Lee ran as a moderate. He was not deceptive in his campaign in that he did not campaign to the right. He ran as a nice guy moderate and has governed as a nice guy moderate.
By last year when he ran again for re election he had no serious challengers who had name recognition and support even close enough to beat him. There was no widespread demand for another candidate or others would have stepped forward to run.
We get what we donate time and money to + vote for
Lee is a Nashville Republican, which is Democrat in most of the rest of the state. The problem with a red flag law is, WHO DECIDES?! In this country, unless you have been convicted in a court of law, you have Constitutional rights, that they cannot remove with legislation, no matter how well intentioned. So the devil is in the details. SOMEONE is going to DECIDE who gets guns and who does not.
Sounds like a Democrat!! Back door Gun control.
Red Flag Blah blah blah
Lee is not & never has bn a conservative
He will push hard to get restrictions, dem lite Republicans will find a way.
FIREARMS MUST BE SECURED BY
A DESIGNATED INDIVIDUAL FOR
CUSTODIAL STORAGE EVERY 30 DAYS MUST BE REEVALUATED
FIREARMS SHALL NOT BE REMOVED TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
Once again, politicians true colors show in the midst of a crisis. How about we avoid the crisis to begin with?
Where was the mental health for this woman before she became enamored with the idea of causing a mass shooting? We can see that the “affirmative care” that the transgender community has demanded, is not working. Their “treatment” protocols have created nothing but more heartbreak and heartache for people suffering from their break with reality. And now our community at large.
Why are we creating gun free zones? Especially when we KNOW that these zones are specifically targeted by these shooters expressly because they know that there will be little or no resistance to their plans? The police can not be everywhere. Is it not one of our obligations of citizenship to ensure domestic tranquility and protect the vulnerable in our communities? Giving the police more funding to hire officers, especially since our communities are growing, would help. But I do not see that as the final solution to the problem. Perhaps eliminating gun free zones, and everyone sane, exercising their constitutional rights to bear arms, will put an end to these types of shootings to begin with. If the perpetrators know that they are going to be met with resistance that has been well trained in fire arms, that maybe enough of a deterrent. It will not stop the criminally insane, but then, with well trained and armed citizens, the criminal will not get that far.
The Freedoms of our Constitution are granted by God. But we are obligated to exercise them with responsibility to keep them. The politicians and activists will erode all of them if we do not stand up and defend our rights.