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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Some State Republican lawmakers say they will not be voting to change any current gun laws in the upcoming special session if the “manifesto” of the Covenant School shooter remains unavailable to the public.
That special session, scheduled to begin August 21st, was announced by Governor Bill Lee after legislators neglected to take up his “order of protection” proposal at the end of this year’s general session. Lee supports a law similar to existing legal framework found in state code that deals with other limited circumstances such as crimes of domestic violence.
It is already law in Tennessee that if a spouse threatens their partner, an order of protection can be obtained to temporarily restrict access to weapons. If Lee gets his way, this same level of protection could be expanded to the greater public if someone makes threats to shoot themselves, a church, a mall, or any other place where the public gathers.
Lee’s “order of protection” proposal, that conservatives have labeled as “red flag” laws, would allow courts, in partnership with law enforcement, to remove firearms for as much as 180 days if a judge finds that the gunowner poses a risk of serious harm to others or to themselves.
Lee has said that his proposal would improve the laws already in place in Tennessee and reach those “struggling and in need of mental health support.”
Many states use emergency “ex parte” hearings to take firearms away. Lee’s legislation would have law enforcement petition a court for a temporary mental health order in cases where someone has attempted suicide or homicide or threatened either. If such an order is then granted, the court would require that individual to undergo mental health treatment.
The respondent would be allowed the opportunity to challenge any allegations in court, and would also undergo a mental health evaluation before the hearing.
Should an order be issued, the respondent would be blocked from purchasing firearms and ammunition for as long as the court order is in effect and would have to “terminate physical possession of all firearms” within 48 hours.
Some Republican lawmakers say they are not comfortable with rewriting state law until law enforcement releases the writings that police collected from the vehicle and home of Audrey Elizabeth Hale.
Representative Lowell Russell told The Tennessean in an email that the shooter’s writings “are an essential prerequisite” before any change to current law is made. “Without the writings we will not have a full understanding of the shooter’s motive and thought process,” he said. “I would be open to discussion and I would find it difficult to vote to change state law without all the facts.”
House Speaker Cameron Sexton has also said Hale’s motives play an important role in any discussion of policy.
Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally says that the writings are public records and need to be part of public debate.
Senator Todd Gardenhire, who joined The Tennessean in their lawsuit, says it is “imperative” that legislators have all the information they are entitled to by law. “The information in those files could provide valuable insight into the mind of the shooter which might assist us in crafting policies to mitigate tragedies in the future,” he said.
Several groups have filed lawsuits against the City of Nashville, which have since been combined into a single suit, seeking the release of all records pertaining to the shooting. A judge recently ruled that parents of students at the school, the school itself and the church connected to the school may present arguments against the release of Hale’s writings.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
15 Responses
I agree with the response to vote NO until her murdering Manifesto is released to the public.Why hide it. They are protecting tranies not the the majority of people. We need to know why. Enough with Wokeness already.
Steve
Bill Lee can’t make the FBI release the “Manifesto” – that is just an excuse to do nothing. If someone is crazy and their family says they are, they should NOT have a gun – that’s common sense. Ignoring Common Sense is a bad idea because most people agree with Common Sense. The way I read it, the bill would only take guns from someone whose family or the police say is crazy. If you aren’t crazy, don’t worry about it. Repubs who think crazy people should have guns will lose votes. If the Leftists get control of Congress, President and Supreme Court, they will ban guns or pass laws that make it hard to buy a gun. Be reasonable or there will be backlash. We’re hanging on by a thread – don’t make it worse. Be smart.
David do you own one single firearm or are you a troll for the left? Your argument is ridiculous. If one one person says, ” David is crazy and should be locked up for his own good. ” Do you think that is a valid statement? I personally wouldn’t, that is just hearsay. But for the left thats good enough anymore to get a person thrown in jail. Your statement, “If you aren’t crazy, don’t worry about it.” That won’t work in todays climate. Your guilt until you are proven innocent. And the rest of your statement about capitulating to the left is why as conservatives we are in the mess we are in. “Repubs who think crazy people should have guns will lose votes. If the Leftists get control of Congress, President and Supreme Court, they will ban guns or pass laws that make it hard to buy a gun. Be reasonable or there will be backlash. We’re hanging on by a thread – don’t make it worse. Be smart.”
Your fear mongering does absolutely nothing to stop the left from taking our God given rights. Which are in the Constitution by the way. That is why I think you are a troll. You say the exact same statements every time. As conservatives we keep giving in to these nuts. Give them an inch and they want a mile. Give them a mile then its a hundred miles. It just keeps going. It doesn’t stop with the left until they get total control. Enough is enough, quit trying straddle both sides of the fence. As Jesus told the Laodicean church.
REVELATION 3:15,16 KJV
I know thy works, that thou neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
Bye bot. I think you are crazy and when this bill is horrendous is passed, be willing to give up your guns since clearly you are willing to give away your constitutional liberties and common sense. I love it when people like you out yourselves!
The question is who decides who is crazy? Would any red flag law have stopped this? doubt it….How long before anyone who doesn’t agree with the state narrative is labelled crazy. You think parents have rights to not expose their kindergarteners to trans story hour…Your crazy. You question the election.. your crazy. You question a vaccine. your crazy. Rights embedded in the constitution aren’t something we should take lightly….The slope is there because we’ve tried to be reasonable. We’re standing on the edge because it will never be enough for the left. “don’t make it worse. Be smart.” Indeed..
I am sick of or so called government passing KNEE JERK reaction to shootings, AND WHY is BILL LEE SIDEING WITH BIDEN. THE RED FALG laws are nothing more then more gun control plane and simple. EVERY GUN LAW passed in the last 50 years is UNCONTITUTIONAL, WHY HAVE A SUPREAM COURT if you are not going to follow the laws they pass.
“No Manifesto, No New Gun Law.” Catchy slogan, no? Can’t have a new law based on an incident when we don’t know what caused the incident.
Govenor Lee is quickly becoming a liberal leader. He is playing to the liberal press and the Nashville liberal elite. It is important to see the writings of the Nashville shooter but it has nothing to do with these unconstitutional laws. If someone had come forward the shooting could have been stopped before it happened. I will work hard to make sure anyone that votes for these laws do not serve Tennesseans again. I am sick of the RINO’s in Nashville they do not represent conservatives.
With all the money moving into Nashville it was just a matter of time before Gov Lee would be jaded by Hollywood. Let’s look at Atlanta and Austin. Best thing is vote him out on the next election. Maybe we can get Desantis to move here & take over the governorship of TN when Trump cleans his clock in 2024. The rotting bag of slop Biden and the corrupt Democrat cronies are the ones keeping the manifesto from being publicized. If Lee really had a pair he would provide it to The Tennessean the way the Dems release information….through a secret third party. One wonders if Bill Lee ever reads the comments in the TNConservativeNews. It should be required reading for a Republican Governor.
California has red flag laws. A friend had an angry girlfriend call the police because she was “afraid” and he has guns. Police swat showed up, arrested him, searched for and confiscated all found guns. The girlfriend later admitted she lied because she was mad but it took several years and thousands of dollars to get his guns released. I’m not sure if he actually got all of them back. Red flag laws are a stepping stone to total confiscation. These libs are using the same speech as Hitler — we need to give up our guns for the children. Lee should be ashamed.
Regardless of what the manifesto says, it should have NO bearing on the vote or opinion of whether or not a red flag law should become law. A red flag law is unconstitutional and it clearly violates
approx. 5-6 amendments. If a law violates even on amendment to our US Constitution or state Constitution it should not even be considered. Our God given rights is “PROTECTED” by the Bill of Rights and if one is willing to violate even one amendment then they have no problem in violating them all. To create or support a bill that violates one amendment shows that this person has no regard for our US Constitution and the rights of We the People. May God bless these elected official with wisdom and the strength to withstand peer pressure and attacks from special interest groups that want nothing more but the destruction of our nation. Our nation is already fighting a war for the sovereignty of our republic and the freedom, liberties, and rights protected in our Constitution. Red Flag laws is NOT an attack on guns but on America as a whole. Lee has shown his true globalist/socialist rino colors in his pursuit and demands for this legislation.
Correct and well said.
Desantis is EXACTLY like Bill Lee! You will be asking for the same thing!
The murderer was likely on cross sex hormone therapy that have the same side effects that anabolic steroids have–depression, paranoia, jealousy, irritation. These are likely on full display in the killer’s writings. That’s why they don’t want them released.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/masculinizing-hormone-therapy/about/pac-20385099
https://www.addictiongroup.org/drugs/other/steroids/roid-rage/
This is a slippery slope. Why are all law abiding Tennesseans being included in the criminal acts of what this one individual did? Once you allow the state of Tennessee to enact gun control laws that is unconstitutional it will be the beginning of the end of all of our rights.