MEMPHIS, Tenn. — At least there are a few Republican state lawmakers from Shelby County who are unwilling to completely toe the party line on the issue of gun rights. Three local Republicans voted against the outlandish bill to allow most adults to carry a handgun in public without a permit.
State Representatives John Gillespie of Memphis and Mark White of Germantown voted no on the proposal that easily passed in the House Monday. Senator Brian Kelsey of Germantown also voted no when the bill passed in the Senate last week. They should be commended for going against their party and siding with most other Tennesseans – who think this is dangerous bill.
But this is a case where the gun lobby – with its deep political pockets – has far more influence over our Republican supermajority legislature and our gun-happy governor, Bill Lee. They have made it a mission to push as many weapons as possible into public spaces. Despite the fact that police officials, mayors, even a former U.S. attorney, think carrying guns without a permit makes a community less safe.
And let’s not forget that this bill also makes the theft of guns from vehicles a felony with a mandatory six-month prison sentence. In a city like Memphis, that means more young black men will be locked up.
The bottom line is, this is the epitome of a bad law – and a legislative disgrace. And that’s my point of view.
