Lee did not mention guns in a Monday press release announcing the special session.
Photo: Gov. Bill Lee, surrounded by Republican lawmakers during an April 3 press conference at which Lee announced he would direct funding towards school safety measures. Photo Credit: John Partipilo
By Sam Stockard [Tennessee Lookout -CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] –
Five months after a shooter killed six people at The Covenant School in Nashville, Gov. Bill Lee will bring lawmakers back to Nashville to cobble together a solution to the mass murder.
Lee announced Monday he will call the General Assembly into a special session on Aug. 21 to bolster public safety and “preserve” constitutional rights. The governor floated a plan in late April to enact temporary orders of protection allowing law enforcement to confiscate weapons – once a due process hearing is held – from people deemed a risk to themselves and others. However, the Republican-controlled Legislature took no action before the end of the general session.
Lee did not mention weapons in a Monday press release.
“There is broad agreement that action is needed, and in the weeks ahead, we’ll continue to listen to Tennesseans and pursue thoughtful, practical measures that strengthen the safety of Tennesseans, preserve Second Amendment rights, prioritize due process protections, support law enforcement and address mental health,” he said in a statement.
Lee said he would meet with lawmakers, advocacy groups and Tennessee residents over the summer to talk about solutions. He is expected to issue a formal call in advance of the session and encouraged people to send their comments HERE.
Conservative Republicans are likely to oppose any sort of “order of protection” dealing with firearms, which is also referred to as a “red flag law.” Democrats and moderate Republicans are expected to back the governor’s plan, and some lawmakers are seeking even more restrictions such as tougher background checks and bans on military-style firearm sales.
About the Author: Sam Stockard is a veteran Tennessee reporter and editor, having written for the Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, where he served as lead editor when the paper won an award for being the state’s best Sunday newspaper two years in a row. He has led the Capitol Hill bureau for The Daily Memphian. His awards include Best Single Editorial from the Tennessee Press Association. Follow Stockard on Twitter @StockardSam
8 Responses
I moved to Tennessee from California about 2 years ago. I am in my 40s and prior to the move I had never lived anywhere else. I can tell you first hand how I watched so many of our rights taken away with one seemingly well intentioned and reasonable new law at a time. The only people affected by these types of new laws and measures are law abiding citizens. This is unfortunately a much bigger problem than what inanimate objects people have access to. Its a result of an amoral society. We should focuse more on whats going on in our own homes and neighborhoods. I love Tennessee and I pray it never looks anything like California!
You can do some serious research pertaining to the goals of Freemason , to understand a little bit more of what is going on .
Send me a link , and I will send photo of sign ( s ) , I work on the street . Or look into the D A R K WEB .
Do you know about their O B E Y society , just one of many .
Williamfdraper at skiff com
I also came to TN from the hellhole of California. I used to tell people—don’t worry, I don’t want to change Tennessee. I no longer say that. I tell people I DO want to change Tennessee—I want to make it more conservative. Lee can be no part of that. He and Sexton are RINOs and McNally is just a pervert. We have a lot of work ahead of us.
I look at the photo for this article and all I see are ole men. Why don’t we have young robust Conservatives in our Congress? I’m sick of these people telling us what we are to do with all
their power and lies.
Stop this insanity and stop trying to destroy our “Great State Of Tennessee”. We are Conservatives, not feckless left-wing liberals. These people are wolves in sheep clothing. Just look at them. You will see all you need to know.
Just say NO to these Red Flag laws. This special session should be to get rid of Turn coat LEE.
A picture is worth a thousand words. All libs, all RINO’s, all against the constitution. Cowards and perverts. Question is why doesn’t Tennessee have a state freedom caucus? Answer, because there are zero conservatives in the legislature. None.
Seven years ago, I too escaped California to return to the birth place of my grandfather. We had a friend get caught up by red flag laws, cost him thousands of dollars even after the ex-wife admitted she lied. Say NO to red flag laws in any way, shape or form.
Bender Billy will do whatever he can get away with to limit personal freedoms in Tennessee
ie., Schwinn. Reynolds. Accepting illegals & making citizens pay for them. Skrmetti. Red Flag laws. It’s all a means to an end of red states.