The Tennessean has released a report as of July 28, 2023, on the state Legislators who have given a public statement on their position with respect to Governor Bill Lee’s demand that they enact a Red Flag gun control proposal in Tennessee. The report indicates some Republican support still exists for the Governor’s proposal but an increasing number of Legislators are at least saying that they do not support a Red Flag law.
According to the Tennessean report, this is where the Legislators who have made public statements stand:
Here’s a list of the 45 lawmakers who have publicly committed to support, oppose, or wait for bill text or testimony on Lee’s proposal made in April. The remaining members did not respond to requests for comment.
Support Lee’s ERPO proposal, as proposed in April (7)
- Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge
- Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis
- House Minority Leader Karen Camper, D-Memphis
- Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis
- Rep. Mark White, R-Germantown
- Rep. Anthony Davis, D-Nashville
- Rep. Dwayne Thompson, D-Cordova
Oppose Lee’s ERPO proposal, as proposed in April (28)
- House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville
- House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland
- House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville
- Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville
- Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston
- Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman
- Rep. Bryan Richey, R-Maryville
- Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill
- Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown
- Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson
- Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski
- Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport
- Rep. Chris Hurt, R-Halls
- Rep. Kevin Raper, R-Cleveland
- Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern
- Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County
- Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka
- Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood
- Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin
- Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin
- Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin
- Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Ken Yager, R-Kingston
- Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Manchester
- Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta
- Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald
- Sen. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun
- Sen. Shane Reeves, R-Murfreesboro
- Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntington
Will wait to see final bill text and/or hear testimony – too early to say (10)
- House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby
- Rep. John Crawford, R-Kingsport
- Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna
- Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro
- Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge
- Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville
- Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville
- Sen. Art Swann, R-Maryville
- Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, R-Knoxville
- Sen. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol
It is important to note that the Tennessean story indicates support or a lack of support for the Governor’s Red Flag proposal as it existed in April 2023. It would be an easy grounds on which to switch from an “oppose” to a “support” if the Red Flag law, safe storage law, prescription prescription proposal or any other gun control measure varied in any way from the April 2023 version. So, just because a Legislator is categorized in one area relative to the Governor’s April 2023 bill language does not mean that they would not support something that was slightly different even if effectively the same.
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