By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Tennessee lawmakers are preparing for an Aug. 21 special session called by Gov. Bill Lee earlier this year following a shooting incident in Nashville, and already there are reports that faith leaders and gun control proponents are pressuring legislators to pass stricter laws and “declare gun violence as a public health crisis.”
According to WTFV News, pastors, doctors, the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee, and many other groups from across the state are calling for more gun control. Yet, existing gun laws did not prevent the fatal shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville on March 27.
The governor’s office noted in May that Lee wants to “continue our important discussion about solutions to keep Tennessee communities safe and preserve the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.”
But how well any proposed solutions might work will depend upon whether state lawmakers recognize that law-abiding citizens are not the problem, but criminals are. In a separate report, WTFV revealed that Nashville Police say the number of guns stolen so far this year from vehicles in the city has hit 621, and the number of guns stolen across Davidson County had reached 783, and the year is only half-over. Translation, nearly 80 percent of all those stolen guns have been taken from cars, so gun owners could be their own worst enemies.
The station said police say “too many cars are easy targets because keys are left inside or made available to thieves.” Police say this type of crime can be prevented. Stolen guns are typically used in crimes, such as carjackings and armed robberies.
The Nashville Tennessean reported that some 10,000 public comments have been submitted to Lee’s office in response to his request for public feedback.
WTFV said many in the gun control movement believe Tennessee is in a state of emergency.
