In a constitutional republic with a so-called conservative Governor in a “red state” like Tennessee, few would expect that the Governor would be conspiring with gun control advocates and conducting “secret” meetings away from the capitol in order to craft a gun control package, including his demand that Tennessee enact a Red Flag law, to be revealed perhaps only once “his” Special Session is called? Well, if you are a Second Amendment advocate who has watched this particular Governor and several in the Republican legislative caucus over the last 13 years, you might be one to expect exactly that kind of shenanigans.
The Tennessean released on July 28, 2023, a detailed investigative report that explored these issues. The report confirms what numerous conservative Legislators have reported to TFA over the last few months – that Governor Lee is making a full court press to enact a broad gun control package that includes several gun control proposals – not just a Red Flag law – to be released perhaps only after the Special Session starts in just a few weeks. Crafting public policy in “Communist style” secret meetings is not open government nor, for that matter, a government conduct that should be trusted.
The facts are surfacing that Bill Lee’s actions are not only bizarre for a governor who claims to be a Republican and who has asserted that he supports the Second Amendment, but that these actions are designed by him, or his staff, to craft a gun control package that threatens the constitutionally protected rights of citizens.
While Governor Lee has never reached out to the Tennessee Firearms Association for input on his gun control agenda, perhaps because that agenda would not measure up well against TFA’s “no compromise” position on Second Amendment issues, he has been meeting with leading Democrats for many weeks. For example, Senator Heidi Campbell from Nashville boasted on June 9, 2023, that she and Rep. Parkinson had met with Bill Lee at his home to discuss gun control. At the same time, she proudly posted on her Twitter feed a photo of her with Rep. Parkinson and Gov. Lee with big smiles which photo was apparently taken during their private, secret gun control session.
At the time that she smilingly posted that image, she also posted a Tweet concerning her gun control proposals which she presumably shared with the Governor at that meeting.
But there is more to be concerned about as the Tennessean article reveals. Governor Lee has not only secretly met in small groups with reportedly about 100 of the 132 Legislators, but he has also formed a secret “inner circle” of some Legislators, including notable Democrats, to work with the Governor and his staff on the Governor’s gun control package.
Some in Legislative leadership, according to the article, are unaware of the identify of what might be the Governor’s Gun Control Inner Circle. When the Tennessean inquired about which Legislators are part of that secret group, it reports that the Governor’s staff refused to provide names or even to confirm that the group exists!
Existence of the group does not appear to be widely known or acknowledged among rank-and-file members, and meetings of the advisory panel are not publicly scheduled or open to the public or media.
While some group members and staff have acknowledged their participation, the governor’s office declined multiple times to confirm to The Tennessean that such a group exists.
Even members of caucus leadership are in some cases unaware of the legislative working group’s existence.
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2023/07/28/secret-group-of-lawmakers-vetted-bills-behind-closed-doors-ahead-of-special-session/70474629007/
Although the Governor and his office have refused to confirm the existence of the secret group, the Tennessean reports that “Members of the so-called “legislative working group” include Republican Sens. John Stevens, Becky Duncan Massey, and Dawn White, along with Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari.”
These facts, which are likely only the tip of the Titanic’s iceburg on the issue of whether Governor Lee is now, in his second term, making a full court press on the backs of the deceased victims of the Covenant Shooting to enact his gun control agenda and that of other gun control advocates.
If you want to help stop this Governor and his “secret” government committees, at least when they are planning untold attacks on your rights as protected by the Second Amendment, it is critical that you get involved, commit to the fight and be informed. Don’t trust anything said about will or might happen or not happen at the Special Session particularly if the proposed legislation is not publicly made available so everyone can see it, digest it and comment on it at least 2-3 weeks prior to the Special Session.
If you are ready to fight, join forces now with the #RedFlagDown campaign at www.RedFlagDown.com.
This is the gun control proposal that we must assume Senator Campbell presented to Governor Lee on June 9:
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