Firearms group escalates involuntary commitments idea in effort against Gov. Lee’s gun control proposal

The Tennessee Firearms Association is launching an initiative aiming to defeat Gov. Bill Lee’s proposed gun control measure. John Harris, the group’s executive director, says they’re calling the campaign “Red Flag Down.”

Instead of separating dangerous people from guns, Harris argues that Tennessee gun owners want to see dangerous people separated from society. Harris bases his stance on a poll by Co-Efficient showing that a majority of respondents support his idea.

“Getting mental health treatment for the individual, removing them temporarily from society while they are being monitored and accessed for mental health needs as opposed to leaving that individual in the community with access to weapons,” says Harris.

That approach is in conflict with the governor’s proposal to expand the state’s extreme risk protection order. Since the mass shooting at The Covenant School, polling overwhelmingly has shown that Tennesseans support tightening gun laws.