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Opinion | It takes 'tough but necessary leadership' to enact gun laws

As a special session is now scheduled for the Tennessee Legislature to address firearm access, analyst Otis Sanford says it will likely be "much ado about nothing."

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Otis Sanford reporting:

We now have a date set for a special session of the Tennessee legislature – supposedly to address the near unlimited access to firearms in our state.

Governor bill lee is calling lawmakers back to Nashville on Aug. 21, but the governor is going out of his way not to even utter the words "weapon," "gun" or "firearm."

He's simply saying the session will focus on ways to strengthen public safety while also preserving second amendment rights, which of course is meant to appease Republicans who want unfettered access to firearms — including military-style assault rifles.

So you will forgive me if i don't think much of the governor's call for a special meeting. The Republican supermajority has shown time after time that it is not interested in limiting the availability of guns to anyone. That's why so-called "red flag laws" are dirty words to the G.O.P.

To his credit, Lee has said more on the issue than usual after the deadly mass shooting at the Covenant school — except he is now trying to walk a fine line by giving the impression he wants something done while being unwilling to show the tough but necessary leadership for fear of offending the gun lobby and his fellow Republicans. 

So let us all rest up this summer, then get ready for a special session that i'm convinced will be much ado about nothing… 

I'm Otis Sanford, and that's my point of view.  

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