Tennessee legislators have the power to curtail gun deaths | Opinion
I’m not a historian and certainly not a critical thinker. I have, however, thought long and hard about the epidemic caused by the proliferation of dangerous firearms since the expiration, in 2004, of the national assault weapons ban. The frequency of these killings across the country and in our state has clearly increased and, no doubt, will continue.
I have tried to recall a situation or course of events in my lifetime that has caused such a lack of response by the legislative branch in both our U.S. Congress and state legislatures. Medical issues, such as polio or the COVID-19 pandemic, child safety issues involving products or car safety seats, and aircraft safety issues arising from the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, come to mind. Each of these examples and others of a similar nature were addressed promptly by legislative and other responsible authorities. Solutions, at least partially, were thoroughly vetted, and legitimate actions taken.
The national situation during the Vietnam War tracks closer than any I can recall, in a couple of important areas. Lawmakers generally supported continuation of that conflict. At the same time, the public’s opposition to the war began and continued to grow.
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There are parallels that cannot be drawn between a war between countries and attacks on innocent adults and children in our nation, but some do stand out.
The standoff that hampered both situations was, and is, political. Clear and reasonable measures were and are available in both circumstances.
Public opinion has clearly turned and/or increased to a point where the logical and correct direction of action has become clear. When that occurred during the Vietnam period, appropriate steps began to be taken.
It is time for Congress to respond to those they represent and act to put a stop to or decrease the number of these unprovoked attacks on innocent people.
An important difference between the Vietnam War and deaths from gun violence in the U.S. is the ability of state government to act. Tennessee has suffered just as other states have.
I commend Gov. Bill Lee in making a call for the Legislature to return in special session on potential gun reform legislation. There are, at the very least, actions that can address this most serious problem. My hope and prayer is that legislators will hear and heed their constituents by Aug. 21.
Craig Fitzhugh is the mayor of Ripley, Tennessee, and the former Tennessee House of Representatives Democratic Leader.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Opinion: Tennessee legislators have the power to curtail gun deaths
