Thousands of Tennesseans speak out on gun reform
More than 13,000 citizens across 94 Tennessee counties have submitted comments about gun-safety reform to Gov. Bill Lee’s office in the first six weeks since he first made an internet-based form available on May 8.
The count of citizen comments had zoomed to 13,744 by June 20. This avalanche of comments has poured into the Capitol from all parts of the state. (The comment form remains open and available to Tennesseans wanting to register their views, according to the governor’s office.)
“The Governor will continue to listen to Tennesseans and discuss solutions with legislators and stakeholders as we approach the coming special session,” the governor’s press secretary, Jade Byers, told me.
An initial tabulation shows that more than 3,640 comments have come from Davidson County alone, and another 971 from Shelby County. In fact, comments have come from every county but one (none so far from Union County, north of Knoxville). Eight hundred have originated from outside the state.
Restrictions vs. 2nd Amendment
The comments include recommendations for action by the governor and General Assembly and so far have ranged from the need for overdue action on gun restrictions to protect children to warnings to steer clear of the Second Amendment. One Middle Tennessee commenter wrote:
“I realize this is a topic full of strong feelings and there is no easy or complete solution. But steps must be taken to decrease the danger and trauma our citizens, and especially our children face. I have had to take the cell phone call from a sobbing child “mom theyre (sic) shooting what do i do?” And “We think it’s safe, but we’ve been hiding in the closet for 3 hours.” Thankfully neither was physically injured, but this isnt normal and cannot be allowed to continue.”
The Covenant School shootings and citizen protests
It has been three months since the horrific shootings at Nashville’s Covenant School that killed six on March 27, and five weeks since Lee himself declared he would call the legislature into a special session to deal with gun safety.
After the citizen protests at the Capitol this spring – daily, loud and large – that came in the wake of the Covenant School murders, the state House and Senate quickly adjourned for the year, rather than face more wrath from protesters. Further, several members then said they will not even consider the “emergency order of protection” proposal that Lee recommended. At least three members went so far as to insist that Lee actually reverse course on the very idea of a special session.
Most Tennesseans want some gun-safety measures
Lee has stood his ground on the need for an extraordinary session of the legislature. His opponents have chosen the side of the gun, not of people. They are
unmoved by recent polling indicating 72% of Tennesseans support new gunsafety measures.
(The governor has not mentioned the word “gun” as yet in his public statements, so polarizing is this issue of gun control in America and the gun industry’s influence over many legislators.)
Yet Lee also has said he perceives “broad agreement that action is needed, and in the weeks ahead, we’ll continue to listen to Tennesseans and pursue thoughtful, practical measures that strengthen the safety of Tennesseans, preserve Second Amendment rights, prioritize due process protections, support law enforcement and address mental health.”
Lee, lawmakers meeting privately
I have learned that Lee has been meeting privately with small groups of lawmakers, and that is encouraging. These discussions have occurred not at the Capitol but at the governor’s residence on Curtiswood Lane in South Nashville. These sessions, which participants described to me as “collaborative,” “sincere” and “civil,” included many Democrats in the House and Senate. The Democrats I have interviewed said Lee in private appeared open to their recommendations.
One of these is Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-nashville, who told me she took along a list of 17 specific recommendations for better gun safety. To be clear, the governor has not adopted or endorse her list, but it includes expanded background checks to require any sale or transfer of a firearm to be done through a federallylicensed gun dealer; limiting magazine capacity to 10 rounds or less; banning the sale of assault weapons; banning so-called bump stocks; requiring all guns in boats and vehicles to be securely locked and hidden from view; and repealing of the Lee administration’s controversial permitless carry law.
Campbell’s list did somewhat mirror a recent Forbes magazine article by former Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Frist of Nashville in which he presented 11 categories of suggested reform.
It will be instructive to see Lee’s actual proclamation convening the August session. It must set forth the specific topics or issues the legislature is called to address. After all is said and done in the public-comment period, what does Gov. Lee himself want the Tennessee legislature to consider doing? Will it go beyond the single topic of an emergency order of protection, or will it be more comprehensive? What the call leaves out, making anything else off-limits, will be as telling as what he leaves in.
With the online public-comment form, the onus was placed on regular citizens to insist on comprehensive action for gun safety. But will this rather indirect strategy frame a suitably broad agenda that will protect human life better than the abysmal status quo? In fact, it would appear that much is riding on how Tennessean citizens respond and utilize this informal survey.
In any case, we are about to see exactly how much influence this governor actually has with his defiant fellow Republicans up on the Capitol’s second floor. Breaking such a stalemate is called leadership.
Keel Hunt is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network – Tennessee, and the author of four books on Tennessee politics and history. Read more at www.keelhunt.com.