Special Session Draws Anti-Gun Activists To Tennessee Capitol

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

The Special Legislative Session called by Governor Bill Lee was not the only thing happening in Nashville on Monday as the city was abuzz with activity.

As the General Assembly prepared to begin considering legislation surrounding school safety and mental health resources, a number of anti-gun activists took to the Capitol in an attempt to push for stronger gun reform.

The morning began at 8:30 a.m. with the Southern Christian Coalition meeting in Legislative Plaza. A number of area ministers were on hand to lead the group in singing and prayer. Leaders included Reverend Ingrid McIntyre of Glencliff United Methodist Church, Chaplain Dahron Johnson of the United Church of Christ, and Reverend Francisco Garcia of St. Augustine Chapel.

At 9:00 a.m., House Minority Leader Karen Camper (D-Memphis-District 87) hosted Coffee and Conversation in the Gulf Crossing Office Building, and at 10:00 a.m. a group of doctors delivered a petition signed by over 1,100 physicians to the Cordell Hull State Office Building. The petition was a plea for legislators to enhance gun safety regulations.

Tennessee’s chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action held a press conference in the Media Room of the Cordell Hull Building at 11:00, outlining what they describe as the legislature’s failure to effectively act on gun reform policies prior to the session.

Several groups including the Equity Alliance, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Memphis for All met at First Baptist Church Capitol Hill at noon and then marched to a rally in Legislative Plaza.

The Tennessee Equity Project and the Human Rights Campaign Nashville held a first watch from the balcony of the Special Session at 4:00 p.m. 

Additional events are scheduled over the course of the next few days with the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee and the Interdenomination Ministers Fellowship hosting a press conference to address gun violence on Tuesday at the Cordell Hull Building while AWAKE (Advocates for Women and Kids’ Equality) will host a Day on the Hill on Wednesday to meet with legislators about potential changes to gun policies.

In her motion to adjourn the Special Session, Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16) noted that the Metro Nashville Police Department has gone as far to recommend that anyone who works in downtown Nashville stay home throughout the duration of this special session “for their own safety.”