TN Politics: Do State Lawmakers Have Anti-Urban Bias?

Second Amendment

[ad_1]

In a numerical sense, lawmakers in Tennessee have little concern or need for bipartisanship. That’s because the 31 Democrats in the General Assembly are vastly outnumbered in policy debates with the state’s 99 Republicans.

But with the federal government now in Democratic control, state lawmakers have been pushing a slate of proposals intended not just to provoke Democrats — such as pushing new anti-abortion measures, making the Bible the official state book, finding new ways to denigrate LGBT people — but also bills that, some experts say, undermine public health and safety in urban areas.

banner

Gov. Bill Lee himself has suggested that putting more handguns on the streets will vastly improve public safety and expand Second Amendment rights, a claim rejected by law enforcement officials, urban mayors, and murder victims’ advocates. Memphis’ record homicide rate has already been attributed to stolen gun proliferation as a result of previously weakened gun regulations. Now, as Republicans remove the permitting process for carrying guns in public, which includes a short gun safety class, urban communities will likely be the first to learn whether Gov. Lee’s valentine to the NRA and gun manufacturers results in more innocent victims or more streetcorner justice by local heroes with no firearms training. 

The pandemic has also revealed tensions between rural and urban lawmakers. As urban health departments tried to slow the spread of the coronavirus by closing down businesses and imposing restrictions, Gov. Lee felt that since the majority of Tennesseans who live in rural areas faced fewer risks they should not have the same moral imposition placed upon them to protect other citizens from infection. Republican lawmakers believe that businesses under urban health mandates and those under rural health mandates should have a choice which mandates best serve their financial needs, just as many rural Tennessee Republicans determined that the science behind mask wearing and social distancing contradicted their desires for personal freedom

Political analyst Otis Sanford suggests that lawmakers’ disdain for Democrats, urban areas and urban demographics has been long ingrained in Tennessee politics. 

[ad_2]

Source link

Articles You May Like

Bond Arms ‘First Lady’ Derringer: Class, Strength, Beauty
No Open Carry in Winn-Dixie Despite Florida Law
New bill seeks to lower Florida’s gun-buying age, undoing law passed after Parkland massacre – Orlando Sentinel
Lower gun buying age sought
Would America Be Safer Without the Second Amendment?

22 Comments

  1. 735720 156273Hello, Neat post. There is actually a issue with your web site in internet explorer, could test thisK IE nonetheless may be the marketplace leader and a large portion of folks will leave out your outstanding writing due to this difficulty. 640660

  2. 85740 246539This design is steller! You definitely know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool! 816636

  3. 690167 751569There exist a couple of many different distinct levels among the California Weight loss program and each and every a person is pretty crucial. Youre procedure stands out as the the actual giving up with all the power. weight loss 26802

  4. 231243 979510Empathetic for your monstrous inspect, in addition Im just seriously great as an alternative to Zune, and consequently optimism them, together with the extremely very good critical reviews some other players have documented, will let you determine whether it does not take right choice for you. 656907

  5. 68276 587002Aw, this was a very nice post. In thought I want to put in writing like this moreover ?taking time and actual effort to make a really great write-up?even so what can I say?I procrastinate alot and definitely not appear to get one thing done. 753470

  6. 258882 959673Oh my goodness! a amazing post dude. Thank you Even so I is going to be experiencing problem with ur rss . Dont know why Can not subscribe to it. Will there be any person obtaining identical rss problem? Anybody who knows kindly respond. Thnkx 336299

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *