Order Of Protection Bill Gets Filed Again After Dying In Special Session Due To Inaction By Senate Last August
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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill has been filed for a second time that would expand who is eligible for lifetime orders of protection in Tennessee.
Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44) is sponsoring House Bill 1645 (HB1645) and Senator Paul Rose (R-Covington-District 32) is sponsoring the corresponding Senate Bill 1699 (SB1699).
Lamberth’s bill was filed during last summer’s special session where it passed the House unanimously.
In August, the bill died after the state Senate refused to take action. The proposed law aims to expand lifetime orders of protection to include victims of aggravated stalking, especially aggravated stalking, and felony harassment.
In 2021, Lamberth sponsored a similar bill that became law, giving victims of violent crime an option to seek a lifetime order of protection.
Under that law, victims of felony offenses of assault, criminal homicide, attempted homicide, kidnapping, or sexual offenses are now able to file a petition for a lifetime order of protection against a convicted offender. Those who violate such orders must spend a year behind bars for each offense.
Nikki Goeser, whose husband was brutally murdered in front of her by her stalker, asked Lambeth for help in getting the law passed. She was motivated to have the state’s law changed after her husband’s murderer started stalking her from prison by sending her letters.
After the law passed, Goeser said, “For victims/survivors of violent crime out there, I highly recommend a backup plan, because at the end of the day, this is a piece of paper. It has the weight of the law behind it, but it can still be violated.”
Goeser advocates for victims arming themselves appropriately and knowing the law of self defense and justifiable use of force and personally chooses to carry a gun for self defense.
“How you choose to protect yourself is a personal decision, but please have a plan to do so,” said Goeser when the law was passed. “Victims should never completely rely on an order of protection. Do what you must to protect yourself and your loved ones within the law.”
Goeser has also testified before the U.S. Senate about the unintended consequences of Red Flag Laws and other gun control laws.
Lamberth is unlikely to be the only lawmaker reviving a bill from the special session as this year’s general session ramps up for action.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative.
You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
I’m curious how many members of the Senate that failed to pass this have either a direct or indie t connection to stalking victims? Life long trauma should have life long perpetrator consequences.
Anyone supporting this is not thinking about long term consequences. It can easily become a weapon. Orders of protection are far to common as is.
This bill specifically states that the order can only be petitioned for against a CONVICTED violent offender by the victim. A judge then hears from the victim in court and makes the ultimate decision to grant or not. This is a good bill.