On August 20, 2023, Alice Rolli, who presents herself as the conservative option in the race for Nashville mayor, issued a press release in which she appears to bemoan that Tennessee does not already have a “Red Flag” law or procedure to allow the government to step in and seize firearms from individuals that the government identifies as mentally ill or drug addicted.

The first two paragraphs of her “Statement on Special Session” clearly shows her support for Red Flag laws.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 20, 2023
Press Contact: Mills Waterhouse
Email: Mills@AliceRolli.com
Phone: 423.667.8003

STATEMENT ON SPECIAL SESSION

Nashville, TN – Alice Rolli, candidate for Nashville Mayor issued the following statement today:

“This week’s special session is a first step in working to improve the safety of our community. I applaud the many bills filed to improve access and availability of mental health services and to better support and fund safe gun storage initiatives.

Like many Tennesseans, I’m disappointed we are not yet considering an extreme risk option.  If we have figured out a way to temporarily separate a parent experiencing a mental health crisis or drug
addiction from their child, it seems to me we ought to be able to figure out a way to temporarily separate an individual experiencing a mental health crisis or drug addiction from their firearms.

Alice Rolli is in a runoff race against another candidate who is more aligned with the progressive left that is calling for many gun control bills in the special session. Based on the prior race results that led to the runoff, she came in second place. Some would argue that she would need a massive turnout of Republicans and conservatives in Davidson county in order to prevail in the runoff.

However, polling shows that 84% of those polled prefer removing mentally ill who are an immediate risk of harm from the community in order to get those individuals assessed and treated rather than a gun control agenda of seizing the firearms but leaving the allegedly dangerous individual in the community. With the issue of Red Flag laws being so polarizing and so many 2nd Amendment supporters opposing the expansion of government infringements, it is a curious choice to come out in support of Red Flag laws on the eve of the runoff election.

It will be interesting to see if her choice to reveal her gun control leanings will encourage Republican voters to show up in support.