OPINION

A Tennessee state senator explains why he is introducing a "red flag" bill to remove firearms from people deemed by a court to be dangerous and why it can be a bipartisan win.

Steve Dickerson | Guest Columnist

Ayrika Whitney / The Tennessean

IndyStar file photo

Gun violence plagues all American communities – including those in Tennessee – and cannot be ignored. We need to come together across political divisions and formulate policies to curb the number of senseless deaths while still protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

Often, following mass shootings, people who knew the shooter indicate there were warning signs. After the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, for example, reports surfaced that the gunman’s mother had called the police regarding his behavior on multiple occasions.

Similarly, following the shooting at the Capital Gazette newsroom, a woman who had been stalked by the gunman said she told police officers that he would be the “next mass shooter.”

Those in crisis and considering suicide may also exhibit warning signs and in the past five years, firearm suicide has claimed the lives of approximately 3,000 Tennesseans. With nearly 22,000 Americans dying every year, firearm suicide is a public health crisis in our nation.

Unfortunately, the people who notice warning signs, most often family and law enforcement, lack the tools necessary to intervene before it is too late.

View | 217 Photos

November political cartoons from the USA TODAY Network

Passage of the law could be a bipartisan win

Many states have addressed this shortfall by passing “red flag laws.” Red flag laws allow law enforcement and family members to seek a court order to temporarily remove guns from potentially dangerous situations.

Red flag laws empower us to be proactive in preventing gun violence while containing robust due process protections to ensure a person’s access to guns is limited only when a court finds there is clear and convincing evidence these individuals present a risk to themselves or others.

{{props.notification}} {{props.tag}} {{props.expression}} {{props.linkSubscribe.text}} {{#modules.acquisition.inline}}{{/modules.acquisition.inline}} ... Our reporting. Your stories. Get unlimited digital access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now

Since the Parkland shooting, eight states have passed new red flag laws, all with bipartisan support. Half of these bills have been signed by a Republican governor.

This is exactly the type of bipartisan, common-sense gun violence prevention policy we need in Tennessee, which is why I will introduce a red flag bill when the Tennessee General Assembly reconvenes next session.

Submitted

As a lifelong Republican, gun owner and avid shooter, I respect and know the importance of the Second Amendment. I also know reducing gun violence in Tennessee will require leadership from people with a variety of backgrounds.

I look forward to working with leaders from both parties and our new governor to pass this important bill.

This policy can save lives while protecting our Second Amendment rights and that is why I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this critical public safety tool.