Over 130 religious leaders in Tennessee, including Catholic bishops, have united to urge Governor Bill Lee and the state Legislature to implement stricter gun control measures.
The plea comes after a devastating mass shooting at a Nashville private Christian school left three students and three staff members dead.
In a letter dated April 17, the faith leaders called on elected officials to protect children and individual rights. The group, led by Voices for a Safer Tennessee, a state coalition campaigning for firearm restrictions, made three key requests: enacting extreme risk or red flag laws, mandating background checks for all gun purchases, and addressing the background check loophole.
Red flag laws, which have been adopted in 19 states and Washington, D.C., allow family members or law enforcement to petition courts to temporarily restrict access to firearms for individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others. Critics argue that these laws violate constitutional rights.
The letter also drew attention to the background check loophole, which results from the absence of a federal requirement for background checks in transactions between unlicensed parties. Although 21 states and Washington, D.C., have enacted state laws mandating background checks for private gun sales, federal law exempts sales for personal collections or occasional sales.
They also highlighted the alarming statistic that firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teenagers in Tennessee.
They called for a collaborative and sensible approach to addressing gun violence and expressed hope that working together would lead to a safer Tennessee.
