MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis voters are less than two weeks away from deciding whether to vote yes or no to three gun referendums in this year's election.
In front of the Memphis City Hall, State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), Memphis City Council member Yvonne Cooper-Sutton, and families impacted by gun violence took a stand. During a press conference, they urged the public to vote yes on all of the gun referendums.
"Get out and vote, vote, vote, vote," said Cooper-Sutton.
Some of the families and victims of gun violence who attended the press conference were filled with emotions reflecting on their experiences.
Lavonda Henderson was overcome with tears when discussing her oldest son, Larry Thorn. She said it's not her voice she is speaking up for.
"I don't feel like it's my voice, it's his voice speaking through me," Henderson said. "I will do everything I can to try to get this issue resolved. It's a fight. It's a struggle."
Henderson said her son was killed in January 2023 from gun violence. She said although the pain from her son's death has not faded, she knows the mission the right now is to help pass all three gun referendums.
"That person or those people have hurt the entire community behind this, so when you affect one life, you just don't affect one, you affect multiple people," she said.
According to data from the Memphis Police Department, there have been under 3,000 weapon law violations in the city from January to Oct. 24, 2024. Compared to the same time period in 2023, those numbers were less than 2,000 weapon law violations.
State Representative Justin Pearson called out other state lawmakers and Governor Lee, stating they only care about their own interests than that of the people of Tennessee relating to gun safety measures and carrying rights.
"They won't pass a bill to reinstate permits to carry, they won't pass a bill for red flag laws or extreme risk protection orders, they won't ban assault weapons, they're not gonna do it," Pearson said.
Pearson said it's up to Memphis voters to vote yes to all three amendments, which include a permitless carry ban, an assault weapons ban and extreme risk protection orders pass by a wide margin.
Pearson said if voters pass those amendments, he believes it will send a strong message to state lawmakers and Governor Lee.
"We are not going to continue to compromise our values, compromise our kids, compromise our safety, compromise our community for the benefit of people who are trying to keep things the same," Pearson said.
This week, Governor Lee shared the gun referendum will not impact state law, but Pearson hopes it can change things at next year's legislative session.
To learn more about the gun referendums, click HERE.