In push for gun law, Tennessee governor’s office memo says NRA prefers ’rounding up people with mental illness’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The administration of Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has accused the National Rifle Association of wanting to use involuntary commitment laws “to corral people with mental illnesses and deprive them of other liberties”, according to documents drafted by republican staff as part of his initial attempt to pass a gun control proposal earlier this year.

The memos, provided by Lee’s office as part of a public records request, reveal a rare criticism by the Republican governor of the powerful gun lobby. Lee has previously praised the NRA’s efforts to protect the Second Amendment. But he has since faced opposition from the group as he works to pass gun control legislation in response to a Deadly shooting at Nashville school which took place at the end of March.

So far, Lee has proposed keeping firearms away from people who could hurt themselves or others. He currently faces pushback from both the GOP-dominant General Assembly and gun rights groups, including the NRA, who are wary of increasing gun restrictions in ruby-red Tennessee. The NRA’s opposition is particularly notable because the group was a crucial player in Lee’s successful 2021 push to pass a law that allows people over the age of 21 to carry weapons without permission in Tennessee.

That means Lee has been forced to go on the defensive, arguing that what he has proposed is not, in fact, a so-called red flag law like those adopted by other states in the wake of the tragedies. Instead, the talking points show that he is trying to sell his proposal as “the most conservative in the nation” and the best plan for “Second Amendment advocates.” He also points to advocates who want to focus on Tennessee laws that allow people to be committed without their permission if they present “a substantial likelihood of serious harm” due to “mental illness or serious emotional disturbance.”

“The NRA’s proposal is not only impractical, but would drastically expand the reach of the government,” says one of the memos.

Publicly announcing his plan in April, Lee acknowledged involuntary commitment advocates but did not name the NRA.

“Some Second Amendment advocates say something called ‘involuntary compromise’ is the answer, but that would restrict all sorts of constitutional rights, including Second Amendment rights,” Lee said at the time. “It’s not the best way.”

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, House Speaker Cameron Sexton further lowered expectations that Lee’s proposal has a chance of passing, saying he doesn’t think he and his fellow Republican lawmakers will support the bills. red flag type He said other policy areas could be considered: involuntary commitment, more mental health inpatient beds, better updated database for background checks, a new statewide offense beyond the federal law that prohibits criminals to have a certain amount of ammunition and expand state law so that more types of violent threats can be considered a crime.

“When you look at what the NRA says, they currently have laws on the books: emergency, involuntary commitment,” Sexton told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “So, use what you have.”

The governor initially unveiled his legislation just weeks later Six people, including three young children, have been killed in a shooting at a Nashville school.. Lee’s wife, Maria, was a friend of the school principal and a substitute teacher who were among those killed.

Despite Lee urging lawmakers to pass his proposal, Republican leaders resisted. the legislature postponed without addressing the issue in Aprilbut read since then called them to revisit the matter at the end of August.

Documents reviewed by AP show the Lee administration drafted the talking points in April. They tout the governor’s proposal as “more specific and narrower” than what the NRA currently supports. It’s unclear where the memos were distributed or how many people outside of Lee’s office received them.

In the memo, Lee’s office wrote that the NRA’s plan “does not get to the heart of the problem, as it does not address unstable individuals who suffer from mental health problems but who do not qualify for involuntary commitment to a facility.”

“Gov. Lee believes thoughtful, practical solutions to keep communities safe and protect constitutional rights are the best path forward,” Lee’s spokeswoman, Jade Byers, said in an emailed statement. “He looks forward to speaking with key stakeholders, including the NRA, and working with lawmakers on the proposals in the coming months.”

In an April memo, the NRA’s lobbying arm urged its supporters to oppose Lee’s plan. The group noted that “Tennessee already has extensive civil commitment laws” and added that the state could improve access to emergency mental health services.

When asked about the governor’s office’s talking points about her group, NRA spokeswoman Amy Hunter did not address the claims, saying in a statement that the group focuses on “preserving and promoting the rights of Law-abiding gun owners in Tennessee.”