Governor Says Tennessee Lawmakers Must Work Together To Keep Firearms Away From Dangerous People
Image Credit: Gov Bill Lee / Facebook & TN SOS
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Governor Bill Lee urged Republicans and Democrats in the Tennessee General Assembly to work together in finding solutions to keep firearms away from dangerous people at a press conference on Tuesday.
Lee began the press conference by thanking law enforcement officers who responded to the shooting at The Covenant School on March 27th, 2023, before proposing new public safety measures in addition to the $200 plus million plan that was unveiled last week.
Lee’s school safety package, focused on beefing up school security, will implement funding to provide an armed guard for every school in the state. The budget will be amended to include $140 million in funds that will go toward the hiring and training of security guards.
Lee said to reporters, “When there is a clear need for action, I think that we have an obligation to remind people that we should set aside politics and pride and accomplish something that the people of Tennessee want to get accomplished.”
Lee has signed an executive order that aims to strengthen background checks and will require the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to conduct a review of the current process for purchasing firearms in the state and report to the Governor and leaders of the Tennessee House and Senate within 60 days.
The executive order also requires new criminal history information and court mental health information to be reported to the Tennessee Instant Check System, the background check system operated by TBI, within 72 hours.
John Harris, Executive Director of Tennessee Firearms Association, stated in response, “His (Lee’s) comments are clear evidence that he either has not read the United States Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen or that, if he did read it, he chooses to disregard it. The executive order is silent on whether the categories of information are first to be assessed under the Bruen decision’s mandate that only limited information which would have been relevant as of 1791 can form the basis for infringements of the rights protected under the Second Amendment… Governor Lee appears, in his public statements, to express no interest at all in protecting the private, mental or emotional health records of Tennesseans particularly when such information is irrelevant as a matter of law to the question of whether an individual can legally purchase or possess a firearm.”
Lee is also proposing that the state’s Order of Protection laws be broadened to encompass people who are a danger to themselves or others. Tennessee law currently protects domestic violence victims.
Lee said, “I believe this will protect victims, that it will hold dangerous people accountable and away from firearms, and that it will preserve constitutional rights at the same time.”
Lee expects lawmakers to take action on his proposals before this year’s legislative session ends, with just weeks to go.
“This is our moment to lead and to give the people of Tennessee what they deserve,” he said.
Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge-District 5) has already voiced support for the passage of “red flag” laws providing there are safeguards put in place to protect against false reports.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25) is also open to passing a law that could remove firearms from someone believed to pose a risk to themselves or other people.
In a statement, Sexton said, “As we look at mental health orders of protection, they must have a level of due process, protections from fraudulent claims, and a quick judicial hearing for individuals who pose imminent threats. The House is willing to work toward bipartisan solutions to protect all children at their schools, in their communities, and inside their homes.”
John Harris said that while Lee is “clearly” calling for a Red Flag Law, “he wants to call it a ‘new stronger order of protection law.'”
Harris stated, “Nowhere in his press statements did Governor Lee indicate that he wanted to use or improve the laws that now exist which are designed to identify people with emotional or mental health issues, to determine by competent medical proof whether those mental or emotional health issues cause the person to be a material risk of harm to themselves or third persons, and, if so, to remove the person from society by temporarily involuntarily holding them for up to 2 weeks for mental health evaluation and treatment. These laws remove the risk – the person – from the capacity to do harm. These laws focus on the real risk – a severely mentally disturbed individual not on some inanimate object. Tennessee already has these laws.”
“Instead, Governor Lee’s proposal would be to leave the risk, the person, free in society. It would leave the person free to acquire other weapons, perhaps non-firearms weapons. His proposal does not remove the risk,” Harris said, “His proposal operates under the delusion that merely ‘separating’ the person from a particular firearm or making it harder for them to purchase another one would eliminate the risk. That is itself a unfounded delusion.”
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
Why is the United States the ONLY country in the world where mass shooting happens regularly? I’m a gun owner, not taking sides. If it’s the people, not the guns, are we just worse people?
Americans have turned their back on God, have been focused on kissing up to the ones who have perverted lifestyles and are less focused on the value of human life.
What do we expect?
This has become a trend for political grandstanding, to issue an executive order when on shaky constitutional ground. Dear Republicans, please give us a real choice next primary election.
We did have a choice. His name is John Gentry. Do your own research on him. He is a constitutional conservative. He ran as an Independent because in his own words, “both parties are corrupt”. I couldn’t agree with him more. And he is a veteran, Christian and owned a business. My wife and I both voted for him. The one thing that bothers me the most about us conservatives. Is that we complain about the situation we’re in and when we have the opportunity to make a change. We don’t. I heard so many people say “If we don’t vote for Lee. The demonrats will get in office.” Well guess what? We have a rino in office. Same difference. Stop complaining and make a change. We need to do a better job of vetting the candidates. It’s on us to be informed. Just because a person has a R behind their name means absolutely nothing. Especially in this day and political climate.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
Conservatives need to be logical and reasonable about this or Republicans will lose votes.
Common sense says a mentally unstable person should NOT be able to buy a gun.
I don’t understand what John Harris, Executive Director of Tennessee Firearms Association is saying – is he for it or against it?
Should paralyzed people not have guns as well? If you want common sense and subservience, move to Japan!
David read A. Refugee”s comment below. He is spot on. If you are a conservative and a Christian you are in this current administration’s crosshair. The problem with us conservatives is we don’t speak or stand up for our God given rights. Instead we make comments like yours, “Conservatives need to be logical and reasonable about this or Republicans will lose votes.” Yes we have a plandemic in this country and it is mental illness. Created by the demonratic party with their reprobate and immoral minds.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
My research shows that most, if not all active shooter events are done by liberals and Democrats. So, using this logic, shouldn’t Democrats and liberals be prohibited from having guns? It would only make sense instead of punishing the law abiding citizens. Of course you punish all for the acts of the few and cave to the desires of the few in the detriment of the many. Plus, our governor would no longer be able to have a firearm since he is probably the most liberal governor we have had… except maybe Ray “Pardon me” Blanton.
I agree 100 percent!
Agreed on the point that mass shootings are democrats.
Ban Gun Free Zones!
So they would take the away the ability, of a crazed manifesto-wriiting woman who thinks she is a man, to buy a gun? Be real. That would never happen. The protected class will carry-on with their suicidal, homicidal and criminal tendencies. Now for the rest of us…the government will be looking at all of us very carefully. What is your social score free-thinker?
It is the people not the guns. A break down of society learning from a young age it is someone else fault, No punishment/ Spankings for bad behavior with the lack of parental guidance with Zero teaching of the Bible. Society reaps what they have sowed!!!
RINO republicans should have their face on Bud Light cans, as transgender Demoncrats.
🤣 😂