Governor Bill Lee called on the Tennessee Legislature to pass a Red Flag law – one that he proposed – before the 2023 Legislative session ended. The Legislators did not consider his proposal but instead they wrapped up business – they thought – and adjourned until January 2024. Governor Lee, apparently thinking of himself as perhaps the “master” of the Legislature, has now stated that he will call a special session to force the Legislature to take up his call for a Red Flag law.

Of course, Governor Lee does not refer to his legislative proposal as a Red Flag law – even though that is what it is. He refers to it as a “temporary mental health order of protection”.

It is important for the public and the Legislators to do a few things. First, compare what Bill Lee says in public and during these interviews about what he thinks his proposed legislation does with what the language of the proposed legislation actually says.

Second, understand that significance of the United States Supreme Court’s Bruen decision (discussed below) which places severe limits on government discretion when it comes to Second Amendment issues with the fact that Bill Lee’s proposal and his talking points are devoid of any apparent appreciation that the Supreme Court’s decision is even relevant.

The full analysis, which includes both the audio clip of Bill Lee's radio interview and a full copy of his proposed legislation, is on the TFA's news post.