Hours after President Donald Trump on Monday called for red flag laws to be enacted around the country in an effort to prevent potential mass shootings, Gov. Bill Lee said he still is not convinced of the correct path forward.

Speaking to reporters on Monday at the National Conference of State Legislatures, Lee would not commit to supporting such a law in Tennessee, where the Republican-controlled legislature this session declined to take up the measure.

"I haven't analyzed that option yet," he said. "It's early for us to talk about which direction we want to go."

Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, introduced the legislation, which was not popular among his fellow Republicans.

Lee also avoided sharing his opinion on whether he could support other types of gun-control legislation, such as enacting a waiting a period before a firearm purchase or implementing universal background checks.

He pointed to a bill this session that increases funding for school safety across the state, including ensuring that a resource officer is placed in each school.

"There is a very robust conversation nationally about where to go with this," Lee said. "There are are a lot of options. I will say I am a person who looks at options and considers the landscape that we're living in and what it is that I believe will be the most effective way to protect citizens' rights and protect our citizens at the same time."

Separately, the leaders of Tennessee's House and Senate also fell short of backing the president's call for a red flag law.

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, said in a statement that he was “open to having discussions” with Lee and Rep. Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, who is expected to formally take over as House speaker later this month, about additional legislation.

“However, we have to recognize this is primarily a cultural and mental health issue,” McNally said. “Impeding the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Tennesseans will not stop one shooting or save one life.”

McNally also praised the legislature for its efforts to keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill people.

In a joint statement with House Majority Leader William Lamberth and House Judiciary Committee chairman Michael Curcio, Sexton said senseless tragedies across the country indicate there’s a need to identify warning signs of dangerous individuals.

The trio of House members talked about the need to better address mental health issues and adverse childhood experiences while touting the passage of a bill earlier this year that allowed courts to stop those who are voluntarily admitted to a mental health treatment facility from possessing a firearm.

“We will continue to focus on improving safety while still preserving our Second Amendment rights enshrined within out Constitution," their statement said.

Nashville Mayor David Briley called on Lee and Tennessee Republicans do pass a red flag law.

Focus on finding extremists online

Lee did say that his office had started talking Monday morning about strategies for identifying possible extremists online to "get them before they get others."

In a Saturday mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, that killed 22 and injured more than two dozen people in a Walmart, the suspected shooter had shared an anti-immigrant manifesto and other white nationalist sentiments online just before the crime was carried out.

The recent shooting has generated renewed discussion about the role of the internet in radicalizing young men to carry out violent crimes in the name of white supremacy.

While Trump on Monday called for cultural changes in the country to celebrate the "inherent worth and dignity of every human life," much of his rhetoric has been inconsistent with that message.

The president has referred to Mexicans and immigrants from Central American countries as criminals and rapists, said after a killing of a protester at a neo-Nazi event in Charlottesville that "very fine people" had taken part in the rally, and recently called for four congresswomen to "go back" to their home countries.

When asked on Monday whether he believed Trump had a responsibility in the nation changing its rhetoric on those topics, Lee said, "I think for me, in the aftermath of tragedy, trying to place blame is not where I'm going to go."

He again pointed to the nation's "real challenge" and need to address "online hatred and ideology that moves toward violence."

Sexton and McNally similarly declined to answer questions on Trump's responsibility.

Congressional delegation weighs in

While state leaders consider how to act in the aftermath of the latest mass shootings, Tennessee's congressional delegation — as is often the case — has a marked split along party lines.

The Republicans in Tennessee’s congressional delegation declined to answer specific questions about the president’s comments and whether Trump bore any responsibility with his inflammatory rhetoric while calling for changing the nation’s culture.

Instead, the GOP lawmakers sent statements summarizing their thoughts and calling the shootings tragedies.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn condemned “all forms of hate and hateful acts” and vowed to work with Trump to continue addressing “this issue in a comprehensive manner by giving law enforcement the tools they need to reduce gun violence, while also respecting the constitutional rights of law abiding citizens.”

Sen. Lamar Alexander said he was "ready to do more" regarding background checks to identify people who shouldn't have guns.

Alexander said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, asked him on Monday to immediately look for bipartisan solutions to fund states' efforts to increase school safety and help those with serious mental health issues.

"But, especially in a nation with a constitutional right to bear arms, new laws from Washington, D.C., alone won’t stop this violence – it will take a change in behavior," Alexander said.

Other Republicans in the congressional delegation:

Rep. David Kustoff praised the president and Congress for passing the Fix NICS measure but said more needed to be done to address the root causes of mass violence.

praised the president and Congress for passing the Fix NICS measure but said more needed to be done to address the root causes of mass violence. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said if the nation's political parties go to their respective ideological corners, they will fail to mend divisions and prevent future tragedies. "I am ready and willing to have productive conversations regarding mental illness disorders and overcome these challenges as a nation,” he said.

said if the nation's political parties go to their respective ideological corners, they will fail to mend divisions and prevent future tragedies. "I am ready and willing to have productive conversations regarding mental illness disorders and overcome these challenges as a nation,” he said. Rep. Phil Roe said the nation needs to address the "glorification of violence" and extreme isolation and make advancements in mental health challenges facing communities. Roe also touted the fact that he co-sponsored a bill aimed at creating a "fusion center" between local, state and federal law enforcement officials to identify potential threats for mass violence. "I believe that with the right to keep and bear arms comes a responsibility to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists, criminals, children and the mentally ill, which is why the current system of background checks makes sense," he said.

said the nation needs to address the "glorification of violence" and extreme isolation and make advancements in mental health challenges facing communities. Roe also touted the fact that he co-sponsored a bill aimed at creating a "fusion center" between local, state and federal law enforcement officials to identify potential threats for mass violence. "I believe that with the right to keep and bear arms comes a responsibility to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists, criminals, children and the mentally ill, which is why the current system of background checks makes sense," he said. Rep. Scott DesJarlais said the legal system must do a better job of identifying warning signs of mental illness and those inclined towards violence.

said the legal system must do a better job of identifying warning signs of mental illness and those inclined towards violence. Rep. John Rose said he is praying for the country to return to one that honors one another and treats others with respect. “I look forward to discussing President Trump’s vision and coming proposals with my House colleagues in the months ahead,” he said.

said he is praying for the country to return to one that honors one another and treats others with respect. “I look forward to discussing President Trump’s vision and coming proposals with my House colleagues in the months ahead,” he said. Rep. Tim Burchett condemned white supremacy while noting that the “issue of mass violence” needs to be addressed. “We must also be unwavering in defense of our Constitutional rights, as fear has usurped more freedom than any tyrant ever has,” he said.

condemned white supremacy while noting that the “issue of mass violence” needs to be addressed. “We must also be unwavering in defense of our Constitutional rights, as fear has usurped more freedom than any tyrant ever has,” he said. A spokesperson for Rep. Mark Green did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Unlike their GOP counterparts, the congressional delegation's two Democrats, Reps. Steve Cohen of Memphis and Jim Cooper of Nashville, criticized the Senate's failure to take action on a bill approved in the House that would bolster background checks for gun purchases.

Cooper, who said red flag laws would prevent criminal, domestic abusers and the mentally ill from legally obtaining guns, noted that Trump rolled back protections implemented during President Barack Obama's time in office that made it more difficult for people with with mental disabilities to get weapons.

When asked if Trump bears any responsibility for changing the nation's culture, Cooper said, "The president’s rhetoric is often dangerous and emboldens violent extremists."

Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at @natalie_allison.

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