Tennessee Moms Demand Action, Everytown Applaud Signing of Bill to Keep Guns Away From People With Dangerous Mental Illnesses

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded members of the General Assembly and Gov. Haslam for working to make HB 958/SB 834 law.

This legislation will require that local law enforcement officials are notified when someone who is legally prohibited from having guns because they were involuntarily committed to a mental institution or found by a tribunal to have a severe mental illness tries to buy a gun and fails a background check. This will enable law enforcement to investigate and prevent individuals who are a danger to themselves or others from buying a gun via an unlicensed sale, which does not require a background check. HB 958/SB 834 passed both the Senate and House of Representatives unanimously before Gov. Haslam signed it into law today.

STATEMENT FROM RACHEL KROMER, VOLUNTEER WITH THE TENNESSEE CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“We are pleased that local law enforcement will now be empowered to do more to keep guns out of the hands of people with dangerous mental illnesses. In the wake of another tragedy, we are hopeful that our leaders will continue to work together to end gun violence. Recently, states around the country have passed common-sense policies like Red Flag Laws, which empower local law enforcement and family members to petition a court to temporarily prohibit someone from having guns when they demonstrate red flags for violent behavior. Doing more to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them should be a top priority for the General Assembly when it convenes next year.”