Representatives from the State Freedom Caucus Network issued a statement of support Wednesday for the Tennessee House members who publicly rejected Governor Bill Lee’s call for a special session to pass gun control and red flag laws.
We stand with fellow conservatives in support of our friends in Tennessee to reject any and all attempts to pass gun control and red flag laws. Do not use a special session to bow to the woke gun grabbers!#idgop #2A pic.twitter.com/NY8F9trncs
— Idaho Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucusID) May 24, 2023
Wednesday morning, Tennessee State Representative Bryan Richey (R-Maryville) issued an open letter to the governor, signed on to by State Representatives Ed Butler (R-Rickman) and Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill), urging the abandonment of the special session scheduled for August 21.
Leaders from the State Freedom Caucuses encouraged the Tennessee legislators in their effort against the special session.
“Republicans already correctly rejected gun control legislation during their session and the Executive branch should respect those decisions made on behalf of their constituents,” the letter said.
Based on the success and reputation of the U.S. House Freedom Caucus, the State Freedom Caucus Network (SFC) is helping to establish State Freedom Caucuses and provide the high-level staff, strategy, and community conservatives need to take ground across the country, according to the organization’s website.
The SFCN, which launched in December 2021 with Georgia being the first member, is now up to eleven member state legislatures. Since the inaugural gala held in Atlanta, where Mark Meadows was the keynote speaker and joined by former U.S. Senator and founder of the Conservative Partnership Institute Jim DeMint and Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07), members of the state legislatures in Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming have formed a state freedom caucus.
Notably, most of the state freedom caucus chairs come from the lower chamber of their respective legislatures.
“Conservatives understand that our individual states are the last, best hope in this country for rejecting the tyranny that comes of Washington, D.C. It is wrong to follow the Washington lead on destroying our Second Amendment rights and bowing to the feelings of the woke mob,” the twelve signers as chairs and co-chairs of the state freedom caucuses reinforced to the Tennessee legislative members.
Having a first-hand understanding of the challenges that conservative legislators face against members of their own party, leadership, and the executive branch, the state freedom caucus leaders expressed a sincere appreciation for the efforts of the Tennessee legislators.
“Thank you for your courage and the work that you do to protect the lives and liberties of your constituents. You inspire us and we are pleased to support you in your efforts.”
Additionally, the state freedom caucus leaders encouraged other members of the Tennessee legislature, consistently ranked high in lists of conservative legislatures, to add their names to the letter to the governor.
“We hope that your conservative colleagues in the Tennessee General Assembly will join you in signing your letter in opposition to the special session,” the letter said.
Within a few hours on Wednesday, State Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) had also signed on to the letter, according to a tweet by Richey.
Senator Bowling has signed onto our open letter to @GovBillLee pic.twitter.com/7AJ3weMmrs
— Bryan Richey (@BryanRichey20) May 24, 2023
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Laura Baigert is a senior reporter with The Star News Network, where she covers stories for The Tennessee Star.
Tennessee Star already has exposed protest groups training for the event.
Billy Lee needs to either relocate the venue to McNairy County Tn or cancel.
You can bet the FIB and all their secret agents will be there.
If he expects to get re-elected he don’t need to be catering to what the left wants. It’s obvious what they want. First this then he’ll be giving in to other things they want. He don’t even need to start going down this road. So Governor Lee do your job and hold the line.
Lee is too stupid to call off the special session. The guy just needs to resign now before he does even more damage to Tennessee.