Gov. Bill Lee calls for 'order of protection law' to keep guns away from dangerous individuals
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday signed an executive order aimed at strengthening background checks for firearm purchases, in addition to calling for lawmakers to pass an order of protection law to keep guns away from people who present a danger to themselves or others.
"I’m asking the General Assembly to bring forward an order of protection law," Lee told reporters at a police precinct in Nashville. "A new, strong order of protection law will provide the broader population cover, safety, from those who are a danger to themselves or the population."
“This is our moment to lead and to give the people of Tennessee what they deserve," Lee said.
The executive order sets a 72-hour period for reporting new criminal activity and court mental health information to the Tennessee Instant Check System, the background check system operated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The order also directs the TBI to issue a report in two months to Lee's office and the General Assembly on "any barriers to complete, accurate, and timely reporting of information that is accessible in TICS."
“The existing background-check process for purchasing a firearm only works when there is accurate and timely information that's available,” Lee said.
Proposal comes in wake of Covenant shooting
Four days after the Covenant shooting, the deadliest school shooting in state history, Lee told The Tennessean he believes people who are a danger to themselves or to others should not have access to weapons, a position he reiterated a few days later when announcing a slate of school safety measures with Republican legislative leaders.
The school safety package, which focused on hardening school security and did not address gun reform, received bipartisan passage in the House last week. Lee has reiterated he has directly asked General Assembly leadership to bring forward order of protection legislation, though he declined to say Tuesday if he had received pledges of sponsorship from lawmakers.
But Lee's comments on Tuesday were his strongest yet that he believes new legislation can be passed this session, which is expected to wrap up within weeks. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, was among the first Republicans openly supporting an extreme risk protection order. While House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, has not openly opposed it, he's expressed skepticism that such an order could contain appropriate due process protections.
Related: Gov. Lee proposes $140M for armed guards at Tennessee schools, no gun reform outlined
Republican lawmakers in recent years have broadened access to firearms. Some Republicans this session attempted to expand a permit-less carry measure to long guns prior to the Covenant shooting, a move sharply criticized by Democrats.
Democrats announced a legislative slate on April 5 in response to the Covenant shooting.
"In this moment, our families deserve action to stop future gun violence," Senate Minority Leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, said following Lee's Tuesday remarks. "The governor is right to make this a priority before session ends."
The Democratic legislation includes a proposed ban on bump stock conversion kits and high-capacity magazines, citing the Covenant shooter's ability to fire 152 rounds inside the school in about 15 minutes. Senate Bill 1564 would allow family members and law enforcement to petition a civil court for an extreme risk protection order, which would allow law enforcement to temporarily remove weapons from a person deemed a risk to themselves or others.
"These are smart and effective solutions to keep kids and families safe," Akbari said. "We are ready to work with the governor and the supermajority to get something done."
More: Tennessee House passes bill to offer new school safety measures
New gun reform effort launched
Republicans are hesitant to refer to emergency, temporary measures to prevent certain people from accessing firearms as "red flag" laws, though that is what extreme risk protection orders are colloquially known as. Gun rights groups have historically lobbied against red flag laws, and some Tennessee lawmakers in recent days have said they wouldn't support a red flag law.
Voices for a Safer Tennessee, a nonpartisan coalition founded in response to the deadly Covenant shooting, has organized lobbying efforts in recent days asking lawmakers for extreme risk laws, stronger gun storage laws and closing background check loopholes.
"There are so many people who don’t fit within the traditional battle lines on gun issues, and the 'one extreme or the other' approach isn’t serving to protect our children or communities," Voices member Carlie Cruse said Tuesday. "The governor’s address today gives us hope that common ground is achievable this session. We support common sense, meaningful reforms to increase the safety of our families."
Related: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee moves to boost school safety funding, open to some gun reform after shooting
Thousands of protesters calling for gun reform have descended on the state Capitol multiple times since the Covenant shooting, at times confronting Republican lawmakers in highly charged moments in statehouse hallways.
House Republicans expelled two Democratic lawmakers on Thursday for breaking House rules on March 30 and leading a protest on the chamber floor for gun reform, echoing the shouts of protesters outside the chamber.
Although backed by some conservatives, the move drew widespread condemnation and national attention. Nashville's Metro Council reappointed one of the lawmakers, Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, on Monday to the seat. The Shelby County Commission on Wednesday is expected to take up the reappointment of the other lawmaker, former Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis.
Though Lee sidestepped questions Tuesday on if he felt expulsion was an appropriate action to take against Jones and Pearson, the youngest Black lawmakers in the General Assembly, Lee said he hopes there's "bipartisan support" to achieve what has been proposed.
"As I said before, when you have something happen as evil, as destructive, as emotionally difficult as what happened two weeks ago, you would expect people to have intense emotional response," Lee said. "That's normal for people. We've all had that. Now is the opportunity that we have to work together."
Reach Melissa Brown at mabrown@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee calls for 'order of protection law' on guns
