Tennessee Republicans Used The Justins for Cover

Less than a month after another school mass shooting in Nashville, Republican lawmakers in Tennessee finalized a proposal on Tuesday that will further protect gun and ammunition dealers, manufacturers and sellers against lawsuits. This latest major legislative push by the GOP comes on the heels of the expulsion of two young Black lawmakers — who have since been reinstated — and the national backlash that occurred as a result.

The new bill creates civil liability in roughly a half-dozen situations in which gun and ammo companies could be held liable in state courts, but exempts the majority of others, like major gun manufacturers and all business owners. The following is the proposed summary of the law, which recently just passed the state senate, as phrased by the Tennessee State House:

“Weapons - As enacted, provides immunity from civil liability to a person, business, or other entity that owns, controls, or manages property and has the authority to prohibit weapons on that property by positing, with respect to any claim based on the person's, business's, or other entity's failure to adopt such a policy. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.”

Democratic Representative London Lamar responded to the passage of the bill by claiming it was "disrespectful timing" to push through protections for gun companies while people continue to march at the Capitol for gun control changes. Given that the bill had already passed the House ahead of the March 27 shooting at The Covenant School, a more plausible reason for the egregious behavior by Tennessee Republican’s in expelling three minority Democrats for no good reason, emerges.

Democratic State Representative Justin Pearson gives an interview after being sworn back into office on April 13, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Seth Herald/via Getty Images)