Tennessee Governor urges ‘Public Safety’ session amid Democratic push for gun control.

Tennessee Republican ⁣Governor Bill ⁤Lee ⁣ has called a special‍ session to address “public safety” in ⁣response to the push for more gun control by Democrats in the state.

Get ‍ready for ‍an important‌ event happening on August 21! This⁤ special⁢ session comes⁣ after a tragic incident at ⁣The ⁤Covenant School in Nashville, where a shooter who identified as transgender took the lives of ‌six​ people. Governor Lee has been advocating for​ a variation ⁢of⁣ a red flag law to prevent such incidents in⁣ the future. In his proclamation this week, ⁣Lee stated that the session would address mental health issues,‌ gun storage guidelines, ​human trafficking, and⁢ “temporary mental health orders of protection.”

“As our‌ nation faces evolving public safety threats,⁣ Tennessee ⁤remains ‍vigilant and is ⁣taking continued ⁤action​ to protect⁤ communities while preserving the constitutional ‌rights‌ of law-abiding citizens,”‌ said Governor Lee in a statement.

While Republican​ leadership in the legislature has largely opposed red flag ‍legislation, Governor Lee’s office has clarified that his proposal‌ should not be considered a ⁣red ​flag proposal.

“To be clear, ‌the⁣ Governor does not support red‌ flag laws. His proposal is different from‌ any law⁢ across the country – it would ⁤strengthen Tennessee’s existing ⁢law ⁣around ‌the order of protection process‌ for cases of domestic violence ⁤and enhance ‍support for law ⁢enforcement, ensure due process, require the​ highest burden of proof, and boost mental health support,” Press Secretary ⁤Jade Byers told The Daily⁢ Wire in ⁢June.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson‌ and‍ House Speaker Cameron Sexton, ‍both Republicans, have indicated that ⁤any ⁣red flag-style legislation would be a non-starter.

“From ⁢a ‌philosophical ⁢standpoint, I‍ have always opposed what is commonly referred to as a⁢ red flag, order of protection⁢ bill, again, because‍ I deem them to be ineffective,”‌ Johnson said. “Certainly​ in the ⁣wake of⁣ the Supreme Court decision, known as the Bruen ⁤decision,‌ I think they are ‌constitutionally suspect​ at best, ⁤blatantly⁢ unconstitutional at worst.”

“As far as the enhanced orders of protection,‌ red ​flag ⁢laws, yeah,⁤ you’re not ‍going ‍to see us go down that road,” ‌Sexton said on Tuesday.

Some Republicans have urged the release of ⁤the manifesto from The Covenant School shooter before​ the special ⁢session, while the Tennessee Executive Republican Committee has‍ expressed their opinion that the session should be canceled.

The announcement coincides with a bus tour by Democrats in‍ the state to raise awareness ⁢about gun violence, with its final stop in Nashville as the session begins.

“Since Republicans gained controlling power, the ‌Tennessee General ⁢Assembly has‍ loosened gun laws and ⁣abolished common‍ sense gun safety reforms, such as mandatory gun ‍safety classes and ​background checks for going armed, gun permits, and restrictions on​ carrying in many public places,” stated a press release from the Democratic Senate caucus.

Conservative groups in ⁣the state have ⁣strongly opposed any​ move towards red flag laws.

“Governor Lee’s proclamation makes it abundantly clear that he is on board with ‌the long-standing calls from notable Democrats like Justin Jones and ‍Joe ⁣Biden to enact gun⁣ control in ‍Tennessee,” wrote John Harris⁢ of ‌the Tennessee Firearms Association.⁤ “Rather than just being candid and ⁣stating he ⁤wants a Red Flag law, Bill Lee urges for the passage⁤ of a ‘temporary mental health order of protection’ as he did in April 2023 shortly after the Covenant ​School murders.”

The ‍Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition, a conservative policy and​ advocacy group, has previously urged Lee to cancel the special session and has‌ vocally opposed red flag laws. In‌ a statement following Lee’s​ proclamation, they pointed to aspects‍ of the ‍proclamation that would address human trafficking.

“As we’ve noted before, while noting certain areas of disagreement on certain other ⁣issues, we’ve had very productive meetings with Governor Lee and his staff ⁤on this issue, making a mutual commitment to work together in the furtherance of destroying ⁤child and human trafficking,” said a statement from the group.

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