Five young children missed class Tuesday to call for stricter gun laws at Tennessee’s capitol.
Tennessee’s legislature made waves in 2023. Here’s a review of the year’s top stories in state politics.
Tennessee politics got national attention in 2023. There were protests, expulsions, culture wars and one official’s interesting social media activity brought to light. Below is a list of some of the top events from the year.
Guns and tragedy defined Tennessee in 2023
A few short weeks before a shooter entered a Nashville elementary school and opened fire, I covered a march to the state capitol where activists were demanding gun control measures. I heard a refrain: “Are we waiting for a tragedy to reform firearm laws?”
Tennesseans unhappy with supermajority putting party interest over public, poll finds
A new poll released by Vanderbilt shows that Tennesseans lack trust in their elected officials. The state legislature’s approval rating has dropped to 42 percent, the lowest percentage ever recorded.
Tennessee governor gives up on push for extreme risk protection order
Gov. Bill Lee has announced that he will not ask state lawmakers to pass an extreme risk protection order during the upcoming legislative session. That proposal would have allowed a judge to temporarily prevent people found to be a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms.
The special session failed to yield gun reform. Now Tennessee democrats are looking to a new federal office for support.
Democratic senators and representatives from Tennessee will be present Friday at the White House when President Joe Biden is expected to announce a new office on gun violence prevention.
Signs will be allowed in the Tennessee House, after being banned during the special legislative session
A legal challenge to a controversial statehouse rule has been settled.
Tennessee lawmakers look forward to January after dissatisfying special session
When Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee called for a special session on public safety, he left out a chance for any gun reform legislation to be passed. With that off the table, Republican lawmakers focused on bills related to mental health and juvenile sentencing. Now, session is over, and many feel not enough was done.
Tennessee physicians voice concerns about a proposed ‘duty to report’ bill and call for gun reform instead
HB7008, a “duty to report” bill, would require mental health professionals to take “certain steps” to protect potential victims if they determine that one of their patients has an intention to commit bodily harm.
‘People are raw’: Gun safety advocates press for change at Tennessee’s special legislative session
Authorities are expecting protests much of this week as the Tennessee General Assembly meets for a special session. In fact, city police are encouraging folks who commute downtown to instead work from home in anticipation of crowds.
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