The week in politics: In new gun reform ad, Covenant victim's mom asks, 'What's more important?'

The mother of a Covenant School shooting victim is backing a concerted grassroots effort to push for additional gun safety laws in Tennessee as an expected special session date grows near and lobbying on both sides of the issue continues to intensify.

Katy Dieckhaus, the mother of 9-year-old Evelyn Dieckhaus, released an ad campaign on Thursday with Voices for a Safer Tennessee, a nonprofit formed earlier this year in the wake of the shooting to spearhead school and gun safety campaigns. Another nonprofit founded by Covenant families is advocating similar changes.

"On March 27, 2023, our lives were forever changed by simply dropping our girls off at school. A place where Evelyn loved to learn, strengthen her faith and where her life was taken by a troubled person who easily accessed multiple firearms, turning our whole world and family upside down," Katy Dieckhaus said in the video ad, released on Thursday. "Beginning Aug. 21, Tennessee lawmakers will decide whether to pass responsible firearm safety laws that will work toward protecting our children and their right to life. What's more important?"

Evelyn Dieckhaus, one of six victims killed in the Covenant shooting, would have turned 10 this week. Community members released pink balloons in her honor on Wednesday at the state Capitol, where nonprofit supporters have been gathering for weeks to pray for lawmakers amid ongoing lobbying efforts.

The Voices group is advocating for safe storage laws, consistent background check requirements and "temporary transfer laws," sometimes called extreme risk protection orders, that allow courts to temporarily restrict dangerous persons from accessing firearms.

Gov. Bill Lee previously pitched a version of an ERPO in April, but Republican lawmakers have repeatedly said they won't consider passing the legislation or any legislation resembling it, even as multiple polling efforts indicate a broad and bipartisan majority of Tennesseans support additional gun reform measures.

The Tennessee Firearms Association has in recent days intensified its advocacy efforts against any new gun safety or reform legislation. On Thursday, it sent a fundraising email blast to its members, namechecking the Voices group and the new advertising campaign, which TFA said cost tens of thousands of dollars.

"All this money to support a gun control agenda being advanced by a Republican Governor and his Democrat supporters?" the email stated, before asking for donations.

Lawmakers launch listening tour

Legislative Democrats this week announced a statewide listening tour to kick off next week in Memphis to gather public feedback on gun reform ahead of the special session.

The Senate Democratic Caucus recently launched a new website, called Tennessee Under the Gun, that compiles Tennessee-specific gun violence statistics. The research findings show there have been 19 adults and 10 children killed in 13 mass shootings this year alone, with an additional 49 people injured.

“This is not new. The statistics are not new,” Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, said. “What is new is the opportunity to turn tragedy into policy action.”

House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, urged Lee to issue a special session call specific to gun reform. The exact wording of Lee's announcement is legally important, as lawmakers are required to stay within the bounds of whatever parameters he sets.

Historically, official special session announcements come at around seven days before the anticipated start date, so the lack of a call from Lee so far is not unusual.

GOP Presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy visits Nashville to condemn Lee

GOP presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy visited Nashville to condemn Lee for failing to do something that the governor doesn’t have the power to do: release writings of the Covenant shooter.

“On April 27, Bill Lee, the governor of this state pledged to release that manifesto. And today we're sitting here in August, with nothing other than stonewalled silence from our government,” Ramaswamy said. “That is wrong.”

Release of the writings is currently pending litigation. Lee has never had possession or control over their release.

But that did not stop Ramaswamy from making his speech on the Metro Courthouse steps, claiming that state officials are “quietly reneging” on their promise to release the shooter’s writings, seeking to “sweep it under the rug," and that Lee is "now hiding it today."

“I'm here today to make a demand of the governor of Tennessee, to make a demand of the Nashville Police Department, to make a demand of the FBI: released the manifesto. Speak the truth,” Ramaswamy said.

In a tweet on April 27, the governor said he had spoken with Nashville Police Chief John Drake, who “assured me that documents & information regarding the shooter will be released to the public very soon.”

Days later, a lawsuit was filed, and release of the documents has since been tied up in litigation. The Tennessean is among the groups suing for the release of the writings.

Lee spokesperson Jade Byers told The Tennessean that the governor continues to look forward to the release of the writings.

"Although our office is not involved, the Governor continues to believe that Tennesseans need clarity," Byers said.

But Ramaswamy seemed unaware that the governor does not control access to the documents, or that Covenant parents and the Covenant School have intervened in lawsuits opposing their release. He led a moment of silence for the victims and their families before demanding release of records they are fighting to keep private.

Ramaswamy also seemed unaware of a state law that allows lawmakers to review investigative records, if the legislature adopts a resolution to allow them to do so.

He did not answer a question about whether he would intervene in any of the lawsuits calling for the release of the writings.

Ramaswamy also slammed Lee’s intent to call a special legislative session.

“My concern is that when this legislature convenes less than three weeks from today … they will adopt policies, they will adopt anti-gun measures for this state that's a form of virtue signaling, that appeases temporary flares in our tempers, but without actually getting to the root cause of what actually led to this tragedy in the first place,” he said.

Ramaswamy appeared alongside Daily Wire host Candace Owens, who said she was speaking in her capacity as “a Nashville mom.” Ramaswamy repeatedly said that he was present “as a father,” and “not here as a presidential candidate,” despite the podium bearing a “Vivek 2024” logo, and his presidential campaign staff being present.

“I don't want to politicize this,” he said, “and I recognize that my being here does increase the risk of that. I'm gonna do my part to stay away from partisanship.”

During the event, Ramaswamy also said that if elected president, he would defund sections of the U.S. Department of Education and redelegate the funding to place school resource officers in every school. He also reiterated a campaign pledge to shut down the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Faith leaders call for gun reform

Reasserting support for gun reform from many Tennessee faith leaders, Nashville area clergy wrote to Lee and state lawmakers in support of the special session and Lee’s ERPO proposal.

“Enough blood has been spilled,” said an Aug. 1 letter from 50-plus Presbyterian Church (USA)-affiliated ministers. “The Presbytery of Middle Tennessee believes that Governor Lee’s proposed legislation is one action we can take that demonstrates our commitment to the dignity of life.”

The PC (USA) is the more progressive Presbyterian denomination. Its conservative counterpart, the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), is the denomination affiliated with the church that houses The Covenant School.

The PC (USA) letter is the first collective action by its local presbytery, or regional authoritative body, though many local PC (USA) pastors have been involved in similar advocacy for months alongside faith leaders across the political spectrum.

Also, on Wednesday, a different group of faith leaders wrote to Lee asking him to “honor your word to convene” the special session. The letter is partly a response to recent calls to Lee to reconsider the special session. “The fierce urgency of now compels us to act,” said the letter.

Catch up on the week

• Judges deny request to continue blocking Tennessee education dues deduction ban

• Marsha Blackburn touts military pay raises, benefits to Tennessee in defense spending bill

• Despite opposition, Gov. Lee keeps hope in gun proposal, bills to 'make Tennessee safer'

Got a question for us?

Got a question about state politics you would like us to tackle? Let us know. Email us at mabrown@tennessean.com, vjones@tennessean.com or statehouse@tennessean.com.

Liam Adams contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Covenant victim's mom on gun reform, 'What's more important?'