Gov. Bill Lee Calls On Legislature To Pass Red Flag Law, Signs Exec Order Strengthening Gun Background Checks

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is calling on the state’s Republican legislative body to pass a red flag gun law. This comes after the governor signed an executive order to strengthen background checks for potential gun buyers. The governor’s initiative follows a tragedy at a Nashville Christian school in which a trans-identifying shooter killed three adults and three children. Gov. Lee believes that implementing an order of protection law, or red flag law, would give the state the authority to retrieve guns from those who are deemed dangerous to themselves or others.

The governor’s executive order will impose a mandatory 72-hour reporting period for any new criminal activity or court mental health information to the Tennessee Instant Check System. This system is utilized by Tennessee’s Bureau of Investigation during firearm background checks. The Bureau will also have to alert the governor and the state legislature of any barriers preventing the accurate and timely reporting of information within two months.

Red flag laws have already been implemented in 19 states, such as Indiana and Florida. They are designed to identify individuals with mental health problems and then permit a state court to issue an order for law enforcement to confiscate their weapons. Critics of red flag laws, however, believe they violate an individual’s Second Amendment rights and due process as the accused often must pay a legal fee to clear their name following ex parte hearings of their case. Additionally, there is no evidence to suggest they reduce gun homicide rates.

Despite the argument of critics, Gov. Lee is committed to pursuing solutions that will protect people’s lives while being mindful of their constitutional rights.

Earlier this month, the governor proposed a plan to equip each public school with an armed school resource officer and to provide private schools that opt-in to the program with funding to hire armed guards with the same level of training as those in the public schools.