On Monday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee called for a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly “to strengthen public safety and preserve constitutional rights.” Lee’s proposed session would convene on August 21st.
Lee had promised a special session after the legislature closed its 2023 session without taking up his proposal to pass legislation to curb gun violence in the state. The final weeks of the session were dominated by talks of gun violence after a shooter killed three students and three teachers at a Nashville’s Covenant School, but no gun-reform measures were enacted.
“After speaking with members of the General Assembly, I am calling for a special session on August 21st to continue our important discussion about solutions to keep Tennessee communities safe and preserve the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Lee. “There is 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.”
Many state GOP members weren’t convinced a session was needed. Some, like House Republican Caucus Chairman Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby), said they wanted to understand the Covenant School shooter’s motive before moving on gun control.
”Audrey Hale murdered 6 Christians, and many Tennesseans are demanding that their state legislature ’do something.,’” Faison tweeted in late April. “We cannot possibly address this horrific situation until we know what was in her manifesto. I am calling on the Metropolitan Nashville Police Deparment [sic] & the FBI to immediately release this document so we can examine it, then take the appropriate steps.”
”There were 6 innocent lives taken & we are told that the killer left a manifesto,” tweeted state Rep. Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville). ”I urge @MNPDNashville and @TBInvestigation to release the document in order to look at effective policy that addresses the root of the issue.”
Governor Lee urged Tennesseans to ”engage in the conversation” by sharing comments on a designated state website here.
“Gov. Lee will meet with legislators, stakeholders, and Tennesseans throughout the summer to discuss practical solutions ahead of the special session,” reads a statement for his office. ”The governor’s office will issue a formal call ahead of the special session.”