One year after expressing opposition to stricter gun regulations, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) issued an executive order to enhance the state’s background check process for buying firearms and urged legislators to approve a “red flag” law that would prevent individuals at-risk of violence from possessing guns. This move follows a fatal school shooting in Nashville that occurred last month.
“I’m asking the General Assembly to bring forward an order of protection law,” Lee said at a news conference. “A new strong order of protection law will provide the broader population cover, safety, from those who are a danger to themselves or the population.”
Gov. Lee expressed his desire for lawmakers to pass the legislation during the current legislative session, which concludes in a few weeks.
Under the executive order, all crimes must be reported to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation within 72 hours, and subsequently processed in a timely, complete, and accurate manner into the state’s background check system.
Additionally, the state investigative service must review the process for purchasing firearms and provide a report with recommendations for any necessary changes to Gov. Lee and the state legislature within 60 days.
SEE ALSO: DOJ Announces $200 Million Spend on Red Flag Laws
Lee said new restrictions, aimed at controlling gun ownership, would “give the people of Tennessee what they deserve,” which is a stark contrast to what he said last year.
“We’re not looking at gun restriction laws in my administration right now. There’s one thing to remember, criminals don’t follow the laws. Criminals break laws,” Lee told reporters in a conference last June. “We can’t control what we can’t control.”
Gov. Lee also previously proposed legislation to enhance school safety, including a new budget with funds directed toward increasing school security. Like the majority of Tennessee representatives, Lee seems to be on an emotional rollercoaster.
After demands for stricter gun regulations in response to the most recent Nashville shooting, three Democratic state representatives staged a protest on the House floor using a bullhorn, which infuriated Republicans. As a result, two of the representatives were expelled from the House last week.
“We should set aside politics and pride,” Lee said in a press conference Tuesday at the Midtown Hills police station in Nashville, which responded to the shooting at Covenant School last month.
*** Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! All Local Sales are FREE! ***
New tool to get even with your X or that neighbor. this falls under the, Do something,
even if its wrong!
These “red flag” laws are a bunch of bullshit! Anyone, that just doesn’t like you can send the ATF to your door “having said”, you have something or you are a detriment to society and they take your guns, and maybe you to jail. Don’t say it can’t happen, because it happened to me! I’ve hunted, trapped, and fished all my life without killing anyone and here they came. I moved to a piece of our family farm ground after the neighbors got shot and killed in a trailer park I lived in for 18 years and as soon as I got out here I discovered the inbred hillbilly neighbors all around me trespassed, and poached on my land. After calling the police multiple times I started telling them I would shoot them and their coon dogs if I caught them out here. Had to call the EPA because of the trash they’d been dumping for years! Then I started getting visits from the police for shooting and the ATF because the said I had automatic weapons parts. I call bullshit! Just another bullshit law that’s not gonna work.
I f you are shooting its a violent criminal act designed to threaten and intimidate, if they are shooting they’er just target practicing. Been there,most of my rural mountain neighbors could not legally be in possession of firearms. Oh good, they made a new law
Time to vote Bill Lee out of office and replace him with a leader that supports our constitution RIGHTS!!!!!!
HE WILL NOT GET MY VOTE!!!!!!!!!
Well, there you go. Another politician that will not stand up for what is right. Just another weak politicain that bows down to the demonic democrats. How about a gun law that prevents ALL transgender and LGBTQI from purchasing ANY firearm because they are working with a “Debased” mind just like the Bible says?
I’m confused how this is a red flag law. All the article says is that if you have been charged with a crime then the skills into the background check system. I don’t really see a problem with this. If you don’t commit a crime and he doesn’t go in the system, I’m wondering if you were cleared of the charges did they remove your name?
Nice going Lee, now you have just embolden the left’s nutjobs to commit more shootings for the cause since that is obviously working to get what they want! In all this there is no talk of arresting bad people or protecting the people with police being able to do their jobs.
Bowing to Democrats again!! Just saying!! I do not think he will be re-elected according to some polls Tennessee people I talked to!