KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Lawmakers returned to the state capitol on Monday for a special session on public safety.
Republican lawmakers are in control of the Tennessee General Assembly, with more than two-thirds majorities in both the Tennessee State House and the Tennessee State Senate.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville), who lead their respective chambers, agreed on several proposals ahead of the special session and disagreed on one.
In April, Governor Bill Lee proposed a mental health order of protection that would, by a judge's order, temporarily restrict a person's ability to own a gun based on whether they present a threat to themselves or others.
Lt. Gov. McNally said he is in favor of the Governor's proposal but doesn't think it will pass during the special session. Speaker Sexton said he is not.
"I don't foresee it passing the House," Speaker Sexton said. "I'm not in support of it. I think there's other things that we can do instead."
Both Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. McNally said they'd like to increase accessibility to mental health care across Tennessee.
"I think it's important to increase provider rates to allow the providers and hospitals and other people who are taking care of mental health patients to be able to continue to do that and not operate at a loss," Sexton said.
Democrats have criticized Republicans for, in their words, using the special session as a trojan horse to reverse progress in criminal justice reform.
"There's barriers to having an adult conversation and a good discussion about these issues, and addressing the root cause of gun violence," said Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville).
Both Speaker Sexton and Lt. Gov. McNally said they're in favor of the governor's call for a special session.
Lawmakers have introduced several bills ahead of the special session. Some of them are listed below.
HB 7008 - Introduced by Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville)
Requires a mental health professional to report when an individual "has made an actual threat of bodily harm or has an intention to commit such harm" against a group or individual, the bill's caption said.
Lt. Gov. McNally said the law, right now, is a bit "nebulous" and this bill would clarify some of the discrepancies.
HB 7016/SB 7002 - Introduced by Rep. Mark Cochrane (R-Englewood)
Changes threats of mass communication to a felony crime. Lt. Gov. McNally said it would enable law enforcement to take firearms from someone who had made a threat of violence.
"Presently, if he's found guilty, it's a misdemeanor so he can keep his weapons," Lt. Gov. McNally said. "Under [the proposed] bill, he would not be able to possess weapons."
Governor Bill Lee summoned lawmakers in Tennessee to talk about public safety in light of the Covenant School shooting in Nashville.
On Monday, lawmakers will begin discussing several bills.
"The governor really has proposed seven issues that he wants discussed, three of those have to do with mental health issues. Three have to do really, with law enforcement, and then there's one that deals with gun safety," Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville) said. "Anything that looks like a Red Flag Law, I think will be difficult to be able to explain to the public in the short time that we're going to have during the special session, and those may not pass."
East Tennessee lawmakers are divided on what changes they want to see.
"I think they said, what 70 to 80% are in favor of some gun legislation," Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) said. "And that's what I'm finding in my district. And in Knox County for certain, people want to see something done."
Some lawmakers see it as an ongoing effort to change communities for the better.
"It's kind of like the opioid problem," Rep. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville) said. "There's not one solution, one thing that we can do that is going to make, you know, us all safe. But we can still look at tools in the tool belt, and it will be an ongoing process."
There are some concerns.
"The question is, are we able to accomplish anything in that short time period?" Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) said. "Are we actually gonna be allowed to have a conversation like adults, about the issues that we're supposed to be addressing that an overwhelming majority of Tennesseans want us to actually address?"
A list of the upcoming committee meetings and lawmakers' planned sessions for the Tennessee House and Senate is available online. A live stream for the House is also available online.