{"id":2336073,"date":"2024-09-03T12:06:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T16:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/memphis-city-council-sues-election-commission-for-blocking-gun-control-ballot-initiatives-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-03T12:07:54","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T16:07:54","slug":"memphis-city-council-sues-election-commission-for-blocking-gun-control-ballot-initiatives-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/memphis-city-council-sues-election-commission-for-blocking-gun-control-ballot-initiatives-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Memphis City Council sues election commission for blocking gun control ballot initiatives &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmemphis-city-council-sues-election-commission-for-blocking-gun-control-ballot-initiatives-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2336073&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Memphis City Council has initiated a lawsuit against the city&#8217;s election \u200bcommission for \u2064removing three <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-wont-rule-out-using-executive-orders-to-crackdown-on-second-amendment-rights-white-house\/\" title=\"Biden Won\u2019t Rule Out Using Executive Orders To Crackdown On Second Amendment Rights: White House\">gun control measures<\/a> from the upcoming \u2063November\u2063 ballot. These initiatives aimed\u2063 to \u200dallow voters to establish red \u2064flag laws, mandate permits for carrying handguns, and prohibit AR-15-style rifles. However, these proposals conflict with Tennessee state law, which, under legislation signed by Governor Bill Lee, allows permitless carry of\u2062 handguns and prohibits local\u2062 governments from enacting their own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tennessee-governor-calls-for-public-safety-special-session-as-democrats-push-for-gun-control\/\" title=\"Tennessee Governor urges &#039;Public Safety&#039; session amid Democratic push for gun control.\">red\u200c flag laws<\/a>. Tennessee election coordinator Mark Goins informed the Shelby County Election Commission that the measures were void due to \u200dthese legal\u200d constraints,\u2064 a\u200c directive that followed threats from state Republican \u200cleaders to withdraw funding if the\u200b initiatives remained. Consequently, the election\u2063 commission complied and removed the measures, prompting\u2062 the City Council\u2063 to pursue\u2062 legal action.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Memphis City Council sues election commission for blocking gun control ballot initiatives<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1737028\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/memphis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Memphis<\/a> City Council is<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lawsuit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title> suing<\/a> the city&rsquo;s commission that oversees elections after the commission removed three <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gun-control\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>gun control <\/a>measures from its November ballot.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The ballot included initiatives that would allow voters to decide if the city should institute red flag laws, require a permit to carry a handgun, and ban AR-15-style rifles.<\/p>\n<p>However, these measures would be in direct violation of Tennessee state law. Three years ago, Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) signed a law allowing for permitless carry for handguns, and in May, the legislature banned cities and counties from implementing their own red flag laws.<\/p>\n<p>Tennessee election coordinator Mark Goins <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/memphis-gun-control-ballot-initiatives-lawsuit-0734df1bc46dccb0f03b4657de5a5048\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>sent a letter<\/a> to the Shelby County Election Commission saying that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-did-media-and-sponsors-ignore-olympian-kim-rhode-because-she-is-pro-second-amendment\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Did Media And Sponsors \u2018Ignore\u2019 Olympian Kim Rhode Because She Is Pro-Second Amendment?\">gun control initiatives<\/a> were void and should be removed from the ballot as they are in direct violation of state laws. He also wrote that the city did not follow the public notice procedures required to put a referendum on the ballot. The letter came hours after Republicans state House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally threatened to withhold funding from the city if it did not remove the measures.<\/p>\n<p>Shelby County Administrator of Elections Linda Phillips complied with Goins&rsquo;s request and removed the three measures from the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>Council Chairman J.B. Smiley, along with some of his colleagues, announced the lawsuit against the Shelby County Election Commission. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/far-left-cheers-as-homeless-group-seizes-hotel-near-tacoma-city-leaders-negotiating-with-group-as-police-refuse-to-intervene\/\" title=\"Far Left Cheers As Homeless Group Seizes Hotel Near Tacoma; City Leaders Negotiating With Group As Police Refuse To Intervene\">city council members<\/a> had already expected implementing these measures may not be feasible. However, they went ahead with these ballot measures to give citizens a voice in how to curtail gun violence.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is an opportunity for citizens in Memphis to speak,&rdquo; Councilman Chase Carlisle said during a committee meeting in 2023 when the measures were first being considered. &ldquo;Whether it&rsquo;s enforceable by the constitution or not, I think, is moot.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Last year, Memphis saw 398 homicides and burglaries jump to more than 14,000. For the first half of 2024, murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault were down when compared to the first half of 2023.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The city allocates 40% of its budget to law enforcement, but city council members are seeking more measures to keep gun violence at a minimum and are accusing Republicans of standing in the way.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is supposed to be a party who supports law enforcement,&rdquo; Smiley said. &ldquo;Instead, what they&rsquo;re telling the people of Memphis, they want us dead and they also want us in poverty.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1737028\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1737028\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Memphis City Council has filed a lawsuit against the city&#8217;s election commission after it took off three proposed gun control measures from the November ballot. These initiatives aimed to let voters determine whether to implement red flag laws, mandate permits for carrying handguns, and prohibit AR-15-style rifles. However, these proposals conflict with Tennessee state law, which was amended three years ago by Governor Bill Lee (R-TN) to permit carrying handguns without a permit and in May when the legislature prohibited local governments from enacting their own red flag laws. Tennessee election coordinator Mark Goins informed the Shelby County Election Commission that these gun control initiatives were invalid and should be excluded from the ballot due to their inconsistency with state regulations. He also noted that proper public notice procedures for placing a referendum on the ballot had not been followed by the city. This communication came shortly after Republican leaders threatened to cut funding for Memphis if these measures were not removed. Following Goins&#8217; directive, Shelby County Elections Administrator Linda Phillips complied and eliminated the three proposals from consideration. In response, Council Chairman J.B. Smiley and other council members announced their legal action against the Shelby County Election Commission. Although they anticipated challenges in enforcing these measures, they pursued them as a way for citizens to express their views on reducing gun violence. &#8220;This is an opportunity for citizens in Memphis to speak,&#8221; said Councilman Chase Carlisle during discussions about these measures in 2023, emphasizing that enforceability was secondary to giving residents a voice on this issue. Last year saw 398 homicides in Memphis alongside over 14,000 burglaries; however, crime rates including murder and assault have decreased in early 2024 compared to early 2023. The city allocates 40% of its budget towards law enforcement but council members are advocating for additional strategies against gun violence while accusing Republicans of obstructing progress: &#8220;This is supposed to be a party who supports law enforcement,&#8221; Smiley remarked, adding that it seems they want harm and poverty for Memphis residents instead<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2542,"featured_media":2336074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Guns-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33772,16596,15976],"class_list":["post-2336073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-city-council","tag-gun-control","tag-memphis"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Guns-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2542"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2336073"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336073\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2336074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2336073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2336073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2336073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}