Tennessee is a pretty pro-gun state, but I have questions about Gov. Bill Lee.
I get that he called a special session of the state's legislature after a friend of his was killed in the Nashville shooting. I understand that feeling all too well. But his backing of the attorney general appealing a pro-gun ruling is troubling.
Now, at least one lawmaker suggested an appeal as a way to get a stronger pro-gun ruling from the courts, which I understand, but it doesn't seem that's the motivation behind the appeal, nor for Lee's decision to support it.
There have been some new developments for gun owners in the Volunteer State.
Last month, a panel of judges in Gibson County Chancery Court ruled that Tennessee’s ban on guns in parks unconstitutional, along with a law that makes it illegal to carry a gun with the “intent to go armed.” However, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is appealing the ruling, calling it “too far.”
“It’s obviously constitutional to prohibit a 10-year-old from bringing a semiautomatic rifle to a rec league basketball game or a drunk with a shotgun from staggering down Broadway or through Market Square or across Shelby Farms,” a statement to News 2 reads, in part. “But the Court’s ruling appears to legalize this in Tennessee.”
Gov. Bill Lee has backed the appeal despite some Republicans who wanted the first ruling to stay.
“We understand that the Second Amendment — and protecting it — is incredibility important in this state,” Lee said.
Except that the way the "intent to go armed" law went, people lawfully carrying a firearm under the state's permitless carry law could be treated by police as if they were committing a crime, especially as far as probable cause went.
That's beyond ridiculous, and yet that's exactly what the law permitted.
See, if it's a crime for a 10-year-old to be carrying a gun to a basketball game, that's one thing. Were it a crime for a drunk to walk through public areas while openly carrying a firearm, that would be different as well.
But my understanding of the law is that it wasn't that limited. Therein lies the problem.
Lee's comments suggest that he's not being anti-gun. However, this isn't an isolated incident, as I've already noted. He wanted gun control after Nashville. He called a special legislative session to get it--one that turned into a three-ring circus, I should add--and while it didn't happen, that wasn't because of Lee.
Now, if we get a stronger ruling out of this, then it's a case of "no blood, no foul" overall, but I really don't know that folks in Tennessee can trust Lee to protect their right to keep and bear arms.
As it is, he's term-limited, so in 2028, there will be a new governor.
Bill Lee may seek another office, such as senator. If he does, everyone would do well to recognize that no matter what he tries to sell to the people of the Volunteer State, he's squishy on gun rights, and that's at best. At worst, he's a gun-grabber just waiting for the chance to pursue an anti-gun agenda free of any repercussions.
I don't think he's quite that bad, but I just don't trust his gun rights record at this point.
Honestly, no one should.
This is troubling, but I also don't think it'll matter. The original ruling was sound, especially as the law is written. Should the legislature decide to clarify the law to focus on examples like those Lee mentioned, I think few would have an issue, and there wouldn't be any cause for concern going forward.
The fact that no one seems interested in doing that is kind of troubling all on its own.
