TN Rep Jody Barrett Writes To Gov. Lee Opposing Red Flag Laws
Image Credit: Jody Barrett Tennessee State Representative / Facebook
The Center Square [By Jon Styf] –
Tennessee state Rep. Jody Barrett wrote Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday in opposition to Lee calling a special session on public safety that could include discussion of red flag laws in the state of Tennessee.
Barrett joins a group of lawmakers who have opposed the idea since Lee announced he would be calling a special session starting on Aug. 21, though details of the specifics on the special session have not been released.
Barrett told Lee in his letter that he has received formal resolutions from the Republican parties in Hickman, Lewis and Dickson counties – the three he represents – opposing Lee’s red flag law proposal and any red flag law.
“They have been joined by over 20 other GOP chapters across the state in firmly opposing what you are trying to do,” Barrett wrote. “That number continues to grow week by week. What is abundantly clear is that the vast majority of law-abiding, God-fearing Tennesseans DO NOT APPROVE of any variation of red flag law, no matter what misleading moniker or marketing campaign that you might try to disguise it with.”
Barrett wrote that some lawmakers are trying to take advantage of a shooting that left seven dead at Nashville’s Covenant School to promote their political ideology.
A Vanderbilt poll showed that 72% of Tennessee voters approve of Lee’s proposed law and 82% approve of an executive order he placed to strengthen background checks before gun purchases.
Barrett said he was writing only on his own behalf and didn’t seek other lawmakers to join him in the letter.
“I submit that your special session will only serve to give this cadre of charlatans a stage and an audience to continue their exploitation of our State,” Barrett wrote. “Make no mistake these folks do not care about Tennessee or dead children.
“They care only about media coverage and winning political rights by whatever means necessary.”
The Center Square recently reported House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Minority Leader Karen Camper voted to allow the introduction of a red flag law by Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville, late in session in the House Delayed Bills Committee but House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, voted against the introduction and it was thus not allowed.
About the Author: Jon Styf, The Center Square Staff Reporter – Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies. Follow Jon on Twitter @JonStyf.
If parents say a child is Crazy, the parents should be able to request that police take away his or her guns. Think about that – that’s Common Sense. If you have a child who is Crazy, you might need to help them so they don’t kill someone. I have a brother who we have to keep an eye on.
If parents think their child is crazy, then why don’t they secure weapons?
Unless you’re talking about a grown child as in an adult, in which case, you’d have to ask whether its the parents or their child who is nuts.
One also has the right to face one’s accuser and I wouldn’t want to be in the middle of that.
The article says > “A Vanderbilt poll showed that 72% of Tennessee voters approve of Lee’s proposed law and 82% approve of an executive order he placed to strengthen background checks before gun purchases.
And >
*Note from the Tennessee Conservative – a more recent poll conducted by co/efficient, a national public opinion research firm, showed that 87% of Tennessee voters oppose Red Flag Laws, after being informed that the enactment of Red Flag Laws would only remove guns but still leave threatening individuals in the community.
Come on – how can someone be arrested who hasn’t committed a crime? If someone’s parents or siblings testify under oath that they are Crazy and dangerous, they shouldn’t have guns. Get real. The co/efficient poll is misleading.
David, I asked you this before. Do you own a firearm. If you do, then you do not understand the 2nd amendment. I would suggest that you have a person that is knowledgeably about the constitution read and explain the 2nd amendment to you. Because you are totally clueless what it means. Every article you write has your same foolish talking points. Just because a person calls another person crazy does not make it so. There are many laws on the books already. They just need to be enforced. One day you could be accused of being crazy and then your world will be turned upside and you will have to prove you’re not. Just think what a nightmare that would be.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
There are plenty of laws dealing with the adjudication of mental cases that aren’t enforced, like way too many of our laws.
If we aren’t goingto enforce laws on the books, why write new ones?
If there’s something unworkable with these laws, that’d be another thing to look at. Guns aren’t the only things people hurt other people with. Cars come to mind :vehicular homicide. If someone is homicidal, wouldn’t you want his cars keys as well as his firearm? How about his axe? Crowbar? Machete? These things and more have been used to kill.
Maybe it’s the person, and maybe we should be judgemental along long prescribed lines that have worked well enough like, if a girl really thinks she’s boy, you really wouldn’t want to leave her alone with paperclips and a rubber band.
Fact is, we have had “red flag laws” for a long time but they used to work a lot better than they do now because most people had a lot better grasp on realtiy than they do now.