by John Harris
On March 30, 2023, reportedly hundreds to thousands (depending on the news source) of gun control zealots marched on the state capitol and interrupted House legislative proceedings to demand more gun control including passage of Red Flag laws.
Against that public onslaught there was no evidence form watching the proceedings on the House or Senate floors that these elected officials in Tennessee were prepared to advance pro-2nd Amendment Legislation in order to further enable Tennesseans – potential victims of violent crime and mass shootings – to be able to defend their lives, the lives of their families, children or even other innocent victims.
Not surprisingly, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, whom many suspect has been actively working to defeat REAL constitutional carry in Tennessee for several years, said he would support (with the Democrats) passage of a Red Flag law in Tennessee. House Speaker Cameron Sexton did not reject the idea of a Red Flag law as a possibility.
The Tennessean reported:
For more than a thousand people on Thursday morning, their response to the Covenant shooting led them up the steps of the Tennessee Capitol and into its halls, where they crowded into its marble rotunda and lined the chamber galleries.
As their chants for “gun reform now” rang out, Tennessee Highway Patrol members were forced to hold open paths for lawmakers and staff to get into the House chamber, which eventually erupted in an unprecedented confrontation sparked by two freshman lawmakers urging their colleagues to address gun safety issues before returning to business as usual.
[Rep. Bob] Freeman called for “common-sense reforms” including red flag laws and background checks. Freeman addressed his Republican supermajority colleagues, who in recent years have relaxed gun laws in the state.
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Senate speaker Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, said Thursday he would support red flag laws, in addition to increasing security measures at school. House leadership would not commit to supporting or opposing gun reforms floated by their Democratic colleagues, but leadership said they would be open to discussing any options to keep Tennessee children safe.
“We’ll be happy to have everything on the table and have a conversation,” House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, said.
Citizens in Tennessee and across the country should take action now to demand that the Legislature in Tennessee do 2 things:
- Enact REAL and full constitutional carry immediately.
- Reject all proposals for RED FLAG laws.
Email and contact your legislators today! It is crisis level in Tennessee particular with anti-2nd Amendment Republican leadership such as Lt. Gov. Randy McNally.
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John Harris is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Firearms Association.
Photo “Randy McNally” by Adam Kleinheider. CC BY-SA 4.0. Background Photo “Tennessee State Capitol” by Reading Tom. CC BY 2.0.
The Republicans should have booted his scrawny rearend out of the legislature. He is a prime example of why hardly any legislation with teeth in it passes the Tennessee legislature.
Will the “Red Flag law” include transexuals among the mentally ill who have to be stripped of weapons? I bet not!
Not surprising, considering his deviant lifestyle.