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Tennessee GOP Threatens Funding Over Memphis Gun Control Initiatives
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Republican leaders in Tennessee have issued a stern warning regarding Memphis’s plans to introduce three gun control measures on the upcoming November ballot. They threaten to withhold substantial state funding, amounting to tens of millions of dollars, if local officials persist with their proposals.
Earlier this year, the Memphis City Council voted to seek voter approval on measures that propose modifications to the city charter. These changes would implement permit requirements for handgun carry, prohibit the possession of AR-15 style rifles, and introduce a “red flag” law. This legislation would enable law enforcement to remove firearms from individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others.
The council has spent over a year deliberating these ballot measures, aware that they might provoke backlash from the largely Republican state legislature due to conflicts with Tennessee’s relatively lenient gun regulations.
Despite the potential consequences, council members from Memphis—Tennessee’s most populous city with a majority Black population—expressed a willingness to proceed. “This is an opportunity for citizens in Memphis to speak,” noted Councilman Chase Carlisle during a committee session when the proposals were first introduced. He emphasized that even if the measures might not stand constitutional scrutiny, they signal to the General Assembly the community’s stance on gun issues.
Carlisle further articulated, “If the General Assembly wants to punish us for asking for their help, then we will deal with that. But that would be heartbreaking.”
In 2021, Republican lawmakers, alongside Governor Bill Lee, enacted permitless carry for handguns and restricted local governments from instituting their own red flag laws. Despite the rising calls for enhanced gun control—intensified after last year’s tragic shooting incident in a Nashville private school that resulted in the deaths of six individuals—many within the Republican majority have remained resistant to such measures.
With Election Day approaching, House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Speaker Randy McNally reiterated their stance, cautioning Memphis against advancing local ordinances that contradict state law. McNally stated, “The Tennessee Constitution clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of the state and local governments. Shelby County must recognize these constitutional constraints.”
In the previous year, Memphis received nearly $78 million from state sales tax revenue, an essential component of its $858 million operating budget.
Responding to the ultimatum, Mayor Paul Young acknowledged the unique challenges gun violence presents to Memphis. “Guns pose a different risk for residents of Memphis than they do for some other municipalities. We need to collaborate with our state to find effective solutions for restoring peace in our community,” he remarked.
Tensions have simmered between Memphis and the predominantly white state legislature, particularly concerning crime rates and the management of public safety. In 2023, the city recorded an alarming 398 homicides, alongside a significant increase in burglaries, totaling over 14,000.
Contrary to these statistics, early data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation suggests a decline in reported crime in Memphis during the first half of 2024. Major categories, including violent crimes such as murder and assault, showed a reduction compared to the previous year, with violent crime overall decreasing by 5.1%.
The underlying distrust between Memphis city leaders and Republican lawmakers has deepened this year, particularly after state legislation was passed to dismantle police reforms implemented in response to the traumatic beating of Tyre Nichols by Memphis officers.
Sexton has criticized Shelby County’s District Attorney, Steve Mulroy, for proposing a diversion program for non-violent felons caught with firearms, a plan that was later abandoned amid backlash from Republicans. Sexton has even hinted at the possibility of removing Mulroy from his position.
“With recent actions from the progressive district attorney and the Memphis City Council’s attempts to override state law, it’s necessary for us to intervene to safeguard the rights of all Tennesseans,” Sexton stated. “We urge them to reconsider their course of action.”
Source
abcnews.go.com