Title: Tennessee Special Session: Take Action NOW!
Original CoS Document (slug): tennessee-special-session-what-you-need-to-know
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Created: 2023-08-15 17:39:25
Updated: 2023-08-21 03:00:00
Published: 2023-08-14 03:00:00
Converted: 2025-04-14T20:33:41.248215782
The COS Tennessee team has been monitoring the developments surrounding the upcoming special session ordered by Governor Bill Lee. A Proclamation was recently issued to call the session, which will begin on Monday, August 21. Among the items that will be discussed will be a red flag law, also known as a Risk Protection Order in Tennessee. This law would allow a court to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed to be a threat to themselves or others.
As self-governing citizens with Second Amendment rights, we're concerned that the legislation considered during the special session may, like legislation considered during the regular session, be lacking in essential due process protections.
Laws already exist to commit a person who is a danger to himself or others. Orders of protection are already available in domestic situations. Persons on parole or probation already are subject to orders of the court, including the inclusion of an order regarding possession of a firearm.
Two issues now face Tennesseans:
- Is there a need for a special session to address a mental health emergency in our state?
- Will the “temporary mental health order” referenced in the Proclamation be a red flag law that does not provide adequate due process protections for our rights under the Second Amendment?
The Governor has been hard at work pressuring your lawmakers to support his proposals. Missing from his plan is “We the People.”
The special session is going to happen, but there is a procedural remedy available. **Contact your lawmakers in the Tennessee House and in the Senate and respectfully ask each of them to immediately move to adjourn the special session so no legislative action can take place.** Even if only one chamber moves and seconds a motion to adjourn, no law can be passed.
Let them know you are opposed to this special session, and that you oppose the efforts to get a red flag law (“mental health order of protection”) passed unless the people of Tennessee are satisfied that it provides sufficient due process protections for our Second Amendment rights. Handwritten letters are the most effective! A phone call is next best, and an email is good but they will get hundreds of emails. All three will work, too!
Let your voices be heard!