Tennessee Governor Sets Date for Special Session on Public Safety and Gun Legislation

Gun rights activists gather for a rally at the Michigan State capital building in Lansing on Sept. 23, 2021. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced on Monday a date for convening a special session of the Legislature, which is currently adjourned, in order to discuss possible gun legislation and public safety, will begin Aug. 21.

The Republican leader has decided to call in all lawmakers for the special session, even after his proposal for an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) law failed to gain enough support to be debated before the General Assembly adjourned in late April.

Lee’s call for an ERPO law, which proposes allowing law enforcement to take guns from citizens who are deemed a danger to themselves, was met with criticism from Second Amendment and gun rights groups, such as the Tennessee Firearms Association, which said Lee’s call was essentially a call for a “red flag law.”

Lee called for an ERPO law to be passed shortly after the March 27 mass killing at The Covenant School in Nashville.

Regardless, his own party in the state House posted on Twitter in early April that red flag laws were a “nonstarter” and many Republican members of the legislature said that such a law would “never” pass in Tennessee.

Many legislators were also hesitant to debate Lee’s proposal voiced opposition due to a lack of time to properly discuss the legislation put forward by the governor.

While Lee’s Republican colleagues in the state capitol didn’t take up his calls during their regular session, many of them signaled they were open to coming back for a special session.

Lee tried to soften qualms about the proposed restrictions by stating any Tennessee law would ensure due process and involve local law enforcement in any decision to take away firearms from any individual.

Meanwhile, Democrats in the state Legislature called on legislation to be passed. When some Democrats in the House realized a plan was not moving forward in the state Senate, they requested the special session to be held almost immediately.

Gov. Lee has since acted. “After speaking with members of the General Assembly, I am calling for a special session on August 21 to continue our important discussion about solutions to keep Tennessee communities safe and preserve the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.”

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee gives the command to start engines prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, on July 15, 2020. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

“There is broad agreement that action is needed, and in the weeks ahead, we’ll continue to listen to Tennesseans and pursue thoughtful, practical measures that strengthen the safety of Tennesseans, preserve Second Amendment rights, prioritize due process protections, support law enforcement and address mental health.”

Special Session Announcement

Gov. Lee used his authority on April 23 to call for the special session, less than two hours after both chambers of the state legislature had adjourned until January 2024—although he didn’t set a date for the sessions.

Special sessions are interim days outside of the Legislature’s scheduled sitting days that are called by the governor or two-thirds of members elected to each body. Special sessions are specifically restricted to a specific number of days for matters specifically mentioned in the call.

At the time, Lee issued a brief statement announcing that the special session would focus on the Legislature debating and passing “legislation that will strengthen public safety and preserve constitutional rights.”

“There is broad agreement that dangerous, unstable individuals who intend to harm themselves or others should not have access to weapons,” he said when he first announced the special session. “We also share a strong commitment to preserving Second Amendment rights, ensuring due process and addressing the heart of the problem with strengthened mental health resources.”

Tennesseans Feedback Requested

Lee said in a short release about the special sessions that his office is inviting Tennesseans to “share feedback on public safety and preserving constitutional rights.”

A website was set up, which went live on Monday, that offers a chance for citizens to engage in the conversation by sharing feedback.

Lee said he will meet with legislators, stakeholders, and Tennesseans “throughout the summer to discuss practical solutions ahead of the special session.”

His office added he will issue a formal call for the session ahead of the actual date.