Southern Baptist Ethics Leader Calls for Gun Control Measures in Tennessee

Brent Leatherwood, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Courtesy of SRLC

The leader of the policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and former executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party is calling on Tennessee leaders to enact gun control laws in the wake of The Covenant School shooting.

“The Covenant School tragedy was the worst school shooting in our state’s history. I am asking that you take steps now to ensure no school in Tennessee ever has to endure our nightmare again,” said Brent Leatherwood, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC).

Leatherwood wrote a letter (pdf) to Republican leaders Gov. Bill Lee, Lt. Governor Randy McNally, and state House Speaker Cameron Sexton along with all other members of the legislature this week. The SBC and ERLC are both based in Nashville.

“I write to you today with a heavy heart as a friend, ally, former colleague and competitor in the electoral arena, a fellow Tennessean, the president of the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, and a father of three children who attend the Covenant School,” he wrote.

Leatherwood praised the public displays of support for the school his family “cherishes,” while also applauding bipartisan school safety legislation and current budget proposals to increase school safety at public and private schools.

The Covenant Presbyterian Church steeple sticks above the tree line as mourners reflect and leave mementos at the makeshift memorial for the six killed at The Covenant School shooting on March 27. The school and church are connected to one another atop the hill. Chase Smith/The Epoch Times

Leatherwood noted toward the end of his letter that Southern Baptists comprise over one-fifth of the population of Tennessee–with its churches “dotting its landscape.”

Opposition

Leatherwood in his letter addressed the fact that there would be objections and opposition to gun control policies in Tennessee. SBC is known for typically having conservative views on many political issues and some SBC members pushed back on social media.

“Undoubtedly, there will be some objections or hesitations,” he wrote. “Policy-making is never easy, but let me offer some thoughts to quell those concerns so that a path forward may be revealed.”

Those objections were prevalent in the responses to a tweet from Leatherwood linking to news of his letter—some even calling on the defunding of the ERLC.

“Glad to know I don’t have to worry about renewing my ERLC donations any time soon,” another person wrote on Twitter.

“I am a Southern Baptist and the proposed policy is a bad one. Don’t bring our denomination into the gun debate,” one man wrote.

Some responded in stronger terms and by criticizing other stances of the SBC and ERLC.

“Now is the time for wolves like you who oppose abortion bills but then support violating our rights to repent and step down,” a man wrote.

“Why have you inserted the SBC into this fight? Promoting more division in the Christian Community when we are losing members right and left. I would say Satan has his hand in your stance,” a different commenter stated.

The latter section of the letter offers “thoughts to quell those concerns” including stating the proposal was about helping individuals in distress, valuing life, preventing erosion of fundamental rights, and restraining evil.

The flag atop the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville flew at half-staff Wednesday, two days after six were killed at The Covenant School in a shooting. Chase Smith/The Epoch Times

“This proposal allows a narrow expansion of order of protection laws that, rather than conflict, actually align with our Second Amendment rights, something that is very important to many Tennesseans, and to me personally as a gun owner,” he said. “Yes, it is true we live in a world tainted by terrible acts and deeds, but that is never an excuse for inaction. While it may not prevent every instance of this sort of violence, it will prevent some, and thereby save innocent lives. That should be more than enough reason to advance this proposal.”

Opposition from conservatives in general about the governor’s plan has been mixed, with groups such as the Tennessee Firearms Association condemning what they say is essentially an attempt to create red flag laws and restrict the Second Amendment rights of Tennesseans.

Many Republicans have stated specifically that red flag laws are a “nonstarter” and would violate the due process rights of gun owners in Tennessee.

Lee proposed legislators create and pass an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) law last week, along with signing an executive order strengthening background checks.

Leatherwood praised the governor’s proposal for an ERPO law and said keeping law enforcement involved would “respect the constitutional rights of citizens” while ensuring “full due process.”

SBC’s Previous Gun Control Resolutions

Leatherwood pointed to a 2022 resolution, which reaffirmed a 2018 resolution, that called on legislative action to reduce “gun violence and mass shootings.”

The 2018 resolution stated, in part: “we call on federal, state, and local authorities to implement preventative measures that would reduce gun violence and mass shootings while operating in accordance with the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

The Southern Baptist Convention Headquarters in downtown Nashville, Tenn. as seen in 2022. Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times

Last year’s reaffirmation included similar wording as well as stating: “we earnestly pray for our local, state, and federal leaders to recognize the seriousness of the ongoing threat of mass shootings throughout our society and to take concrete steps, towards solutions that uphold the dignity and value of every human life, especially the most vulnerable among us, and to minimize the threat of gun violence throughout our society.”

Mr. Leatherwood was not available for an interview with The Epoch Times, with an ERLC press secretary stating he was “not currently taking interviews at this time as he’s still taking time away to process this grief with his family.”