Lawmakers reacted to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s call on Monday for a special session that is aimed to focus on reining in gun violence in the state.
The GOP supermajority in the Tennessee General Assembly did not allow a review or a vote on Lee’s gun control proposal that came toward the end of the legislature’s 2023 regular session. Before they quit Nashville, though, Lee promised to bring them back to review the issue.
All of it came after the April shooting at a Nashville school that left three teachers and three students dead. Lee’s wife, Maria, previously taught with Cindy Peak and Katherine Koonce, two teachers killed at the school.
The gun-violence issue dominated the final weeks of the 2023 session. The turbulent days brought massive protests at the capitol, GOP efforts to remove three Tennessee House members, the expulsion of two of them, and the reinstatement of them both.
GOP members wanted to see the Covenant shooter’s so-called “manifesto” before plunging into any kind of discussion on gun control. They also chided Democratic members for bringing gun control measures to the body after the shooting.
The GOP was largely silent on the issue directly following the announcement. No official statements from their press offices and no Twitter mentions of the session came immediately from House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) nor Senate Speaker Randy McNally.
However, Rep. John Gillespie (R-Memphis) had plenty to say on the topic before Lee’s announcement. In a series of tweets last week, the lawmaker said he was ready to get to to work on the issue and admitted “guns may be part of the problem.”
Democratic lawmakers from both state houses issued statements from their respective press offices after Lee’s announcement.
Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis):
“The General Assembly should embrace this opportunity to pass sensible gun laws that stop future gun violence. The people demanding action have brought us to this moment and now we need every Tennessean who cares about this issue to tell their elected leaders to show up in August and support legislation that truly addresses gun violence.
“Once we see the official call for the special session, we’ll know exactly what kind of legislation can be introduced. But we already know that broad majorities of voters, from all parts of the state and all political backgrounds, support common sense gun reforms, like extreme risk protection orders, waiting periods, and universal background checks.
“House and Senate Democrats will have a comprehensive package of gun safety bills and we’re ready to get something done.”
Sen. Sara Kyle (D-Memphis):
“In Memphis, we know all too well the deadly consequences of firearms falling into the hands of people who would do us harm. Gun violence has buried too many of our citizens and ripped apart too many families.
“I appreciate the governor’s commitment to a special session. Now it’s time for this legislature to do its job and address the epidemic of gun violence.”
House Minority Leader Rep. Karen Camper (D-Memphis):
“The House Democratic Caucus is looking forward to working with Governor Lee and our Republican colleagues to enact meaningful legislation regarding sensible, bipartisan gun reform and public safety. We know that Tennesseans across the state in both urban and rural communities are watching closely to ensure that we address the issues of unlicensed gun sales, extreme risk and protection orders and access to assault weapons and high capacity magazines.
Our caucus was prepared to meet this challenge during the regular session to keep Tennesseans safe. It is unfortunate that our Republican colleagues decided to ignore our calls for action. As we wait for the August special session we will continue to work towards our goal to create a Tennessee where public safety is a priority.”
House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville):
“While I am glad to see Gov. Lee finally responding to the ongoing pleas of an overwhelming majority of Tennesseans begging us to take immediate, necessary action, I remain seriously concerned about the inexcusable delay and his willingness to legislatively address the real problem that is causing these continued threats of harm to our children and communities.”