Governor Bill Lee (R) confirmed to reporters on Monday that he does not intend to ask the Tennessee General Assembly to pass red flag legislation during the upcoming legislative session, effectively abandoning the push he began in April.
Lee told reporters he would not ask legislators to pass a bill he previously proposed that would allow for judges to sign orders for authorities to confiscate the firearms of a person deemed to be at risk, otherwise known as a red flag law.
“I’m not looking to bring that bill,” Lee told reporters, instead adding that he is instead “looking for an opportunity” to “continue to work on public safety” when the legislative session begins on January 9.
Lee originally asked the Tennessee General Assembly to pass a red flag law on April 19, citing the Covenant School shooting.
“We have shared a proposal with legislators that will improve ‘Order of Protection’ laws to strengthen safety & preserve constitutional rights,” Lee said in a video posted to social media in April. “I’m asking the General Assembly to pass this before they adjourn. It’s time to set aside politics. Tennesseans are depending on us.”
After his attempt failed in the regular legislative session, Lee did not push red flag laws during the special legislative session called over the summer.
Before the special session, State Representative Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) told The Tennessee Star that Lee “never once brought up or asked us to support a red flag law during the three meetings we discussed specific topics” when planning. Zachary added that “if a Democrat decides to bring red flag legislation, it would be voted down in our subcommittee,” and pledged he would “vehemently oppose” any “red flag/[extreme risk protection order] proposals” during the special session.
A number of elected officials, including Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon, urged legislators to pursue a red flag law during the special session, and a bill was ultimately introduced by State Representative Bob Freeman (D-Nashville), with State Senator Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) introducing its counterpart in the Tennessee Senate. The bill was not passed before the special session adjourned and did not become law.
State Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) credited the Republican supermajority in Tennessee for motivating Lee to drop the legislation in a statement to WATE, saying despite Lee’s interest in passing a red flag law, most Tennessee Republicans are “unwilling to engage on that level.”
Still, Behn claimed to the outlet that Tennessee voters “want change” and asserted that “thoughts and prayers aren’t cutting it for the Tennessee people” before challenging Lee to bring the red flag law “forward again,” predicting the governor “will have more people show up in support of him.”
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Bill Lee” by Bill Lee.
