In a special vote taken over the weekend, the Shelby County Democratic Party Executive Committee has unanimously passed a resolution condemning Senate Bill 2671/House Bill 2817 “Permitless Carry”.
Tennessee led the nation in accidental shooting deaths by children in 2017 and gun deaths are at an all time high in the nation. Gun shots are the second leading cause of deaths for children in the country. Proper training in the use and safety of firearm is critical.
As the Memphis Mayor, Memphis Police Director and the Shelby County Sherriff have already spoken out against the bill, the SCDP urges all House and Senate legislators across the state to vote against this dangerous bill.
The Shelby County Democratic Party urges all voters in Shelby County contact their legislators, and the governor directly, to voice their disapproval for this ill-conceived and dangerous bill.
The text of the resolution can be found below...
Resolution Condemning Senate Bill 2671/House Bill 2817 “Permitless Carry”
Whereas Governor Bill Lee has publicly endorsed "permitless carry" of handguns in Tennessee, and the legislature has begun consideration of legislation to that effect;
Whereas "permitless carry" removes an important aspect of gun safety, allowing people who may have never fired a gun to publicly carry firearms;
Whereas "permitless carry" eliminates the requirement of taking a gun-safety course, increasing the likelihood of gun owners being completely untrained in the use of firearms;
Whereas gun deaths are at an all-time high in the United States, and guns are the second-leading cause of death for children in the country;
Whereas Tennessee already has one of the highest rates of death by gun violence in the country, and that the rate has been rising for the last decade;
Whereas Tennessee led the nation in 2017 in accidental shooting deaths by children who accessed guns that had been negligently stored;
Whereas countless studies have shown that stronger gun laws reduce gun violence; and
Whereas "permitless carry" is strenuously opposed by various law enforcement agencies and officers, including Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings and Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner; now therefore be it
Resolved, that the Shelby County Democratic Party:
in the strongest terms possible, opposes Governor Lee's proposal to allow "permitless carry" of firearms in Tennessee, as such a policy presents a clear and present danger to the citizens of this state, and be it further;
calls upon every State House Representative and every State Senator in Shelby County and throughout the state to oppose any legislation allowing "permitless carry" in Tennessee, and be it further
that the Shelby County Democratic Party urges every citizen of Shelby County to contact their State Representative, their State Senator, and the Governor himself to express their opposition to any legislation allowing "permitless carry" in Tennessee.