On March 30, 2023, reportedly hundreds to thousands (depending on the news source) of gun control zealots marched on the state capitol and interrupted House legislative proceedings to demand more gun control including passage of Red Flag laws.
Not surprisingly, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, whom many suspect has been
actively working to defeat REAL constitutional carry in Tennessee for several years, said this week that he would support (with the Democrats) passage of a Red Flag law in Tennessee. What raises more concern is that House Speaker Cameron Sexton did not reject the idea of a Red Flag law as a possibility. Further, news reports indicate that Lt. Gov. McNally's choice as Senate Judiciary Chair, Sen. Todd Gardenhire, has now called for
all gun bills to be deferred to 2024.
The Tennessean
reported:
For more than a thousand people on Thursday
morning, their response to the Covenant shooting led them up the steps
of the Tennessee Capitol and into its halls, where they crowded into its
marble rotunda and lined the chamber galleries.
As
their chants for "gun reform now" rang out, Tennessee Highway Patrol
members were forced to hold open paths for lawmakers and staff to get
into the House chamber, which eventually erupted in an unprecedented
confrontation sparked by two freshman lawmakers urging their colleagues
to address gun safety issues before returning to business as usual.
[Rep. Bob] Freeman called for "common-sense reforms" including red flag laws and
background checks. Freeman addressed his Republican supermajority
colleagues, who in recent years have relaxed gun laws in the state.
***
Senate speaker Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak
Ridge, said Thursday he would support red flag laws, in addition to
increasing security measures at school. House leadership would not
commit to supporting or opposing gun reforms floated by their Democratic
colleagues, but leadership said they would be open to discussing any
options to keep Tennessee children safe.
"We'll be happy to have everything on the table and have a conversation," House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, said.
