The school shooting in Nashville has brought about all the usual debates. Democrats pretend restricting lawful gun owners’ right to keep and bear arms would have somehow prevented the tragedy. Republicans point out that this is nothing but balderdash while also suggesting other methods of keeping children safe.
Indeed, this is one of those rare issues where Republicans, by and large, will actually try to do what they promise. This is where Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee comes in. In the wake of the school shooting in Nashville, he has pledged to enact measures to decrease the likelihood that something like this tragedy happens again.
Lee has proposed an increase in funding for school security measures following the Covenant school shooting that claimed the lives of several students. In addition to placing an armed guard at every Tennessee public school, the proposal includes grant funding for private schools to do the same. Private schools would be required to hire guards with the same level of training as what is required in public schools, but are not mandated to take advantage of the program.
Gov. Lee acknowledged the emotions surrounding the tragic event, saying, “We have an obligation, I have an obligation, to do what I can and work together with leaders across this community to address people’s concerns and to protect our kids in whatever way we can.” The proposal also includes funding for mental health support through school-based behavioral health liaisons.
“Mental health concerns are something that we have to continue to invest in,” Lee acknowledged. “There will be conversations across the board about mental health for students and mental health in general. And support for those who need help, and who do in fact become a threat to themselves or others.”
The governor’s initial budget proposal for this year included a $20 million fund for schools to use for building security upgrades, and the new plan would ask for additional funding for private schools. School resource officers are already present in some Tennessee schools, but other districts have opted not to deploy them.
Lee’s plan, which requires legislative approval, is expected to be met with support from parents, as polling shows a vast majority feel safer with armed security at schools. The proposal comes amid a nationwide debate over gun reform measures, and while Governor Lee indicated he is open to certain reforms, he did not provide specifics on what those may be.
Meanwhile, police chief John Drake has confirmed that the shooter at the Covenant School, Audrey Hale, legally purchased seven weapons from five retailers. She was undergoing treatment for an emotional disorder, according to the police. Drake stated that even if Hale’s parents had reported concerns, authorities would have no recourse under current laws. However, under extreme risk protection order (ERPO) laws, also known as red flag laws, authorities could potentially pursue a civil legal order to take away firearms for a limited time period if someone is found to be an elevated risk to themselves or others. Drake said the shooter’s parents did not believe Hale should own weapons.
Governor Lee declined to say if he would push for an ERPO law in Tennessee, but he did acknowledge that lawmakers are considering many options. “Most practical, thoughtful people believe that individuals who are a threat to themselves or to others shouldn’t have access to weapons. In my view, that’s a practical, thoughtful approach,” he told the Tennessean.
The calls for increased gun reform are growing, with over a thousand people protesting at the state Capitol on Thursday, and additional protests and student walkouts planned in the coming days. Rep. Bob Freeman (D-TN), who represents the district Covenant is located in, urged his colleagues on the House floor to pass gun reform laws.
“No sensible, law-abiding gun owner should ever have a problem with common-sense gun reforms such as red flag laws, training and permit requirements, background checks and limited access to assault weapons for individuals deemed high risk,” he insisted.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, a Republican, expressed his support for red flag laws similar to Florida’s, as long as they contain protections against false reports. The law passed after the 2018 Parkland school shooting allows judges to temporarily bar high-risk people from purchasing or possessing a firearm.
One of several problems with red flag laws is that it subjects gun owners to losing their firearms without an adequate level of due process. The decision is typically left up to a judge who can rule that one’s weapons should be confiscated, which means Lee might face some opposition if he decides to go this route. It is also worth noting that Hale was able to purchase her guns by hiding her mental condition; she would likely not have been able to pass a background check if she hadn’t.
Still, if Tennessee’s government is serious about curtailing school shootings, it appears to be on the right path. Bolstering security measures and making schools into hardened targets will be far more effective at discouraging and preventing schools shootings than the Democrats’ effort to disarm America’s law-abiding public. Unfortunately, there are still far too many members of the chattering class seeking to exploit these tragedies to target regular folks.
