The Memphis City Council is giving voters the power to reshape the city's stance on firearms, as a trio of gun control measures are set to appear on the November ballot. Unanimously approved and slated following a council vote this past Tuesday, these measures mark a significant step for Memphians to voice their opinions on local gun legislation which, until now, has often been stymied at the state level.
According to Action News 5, the first measure tackles the awareness around carrying handguns, stipulating an amendment to the City of Memphis Charter that would demand a valid carry permit for any handgun owner. Additionally, it would address the security of firearms in unattended vehicles, requiring them to be kept under lock and key away from potential thieves. Altering course from its initially scheduled August appearance, the phrasing of the referendum incited a delay leading to the November voting session.
Interest in the regulation of assault weapons is encapsulated in the second measure, which according to Commercial Appeal, asks whether residents would support banning such weapons within the city's purview, barring those in possession of a valid permit and utilized exclusively on private or range properties. This measure goes further to scrutinize the allowance of commercial sales of assault weapons within city limits, carving out an exception for law enforcement and armed forces, with special provisions for verified pre-existing owners.
The third, and final measure is notably about implementing 'extreme risk protection orders —' a policy that empowers law enforcement, family members, healthcare providers, and others, to request a preventive measure against individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others in acquiring firearms. As per WREG's coverage, this kind of regulation has continuity failed to see approval within the Tennessee General Assembly, prompting the local government to take action. "What’s good for 97 other counties is not right for us, and we’re being abandoned by current laws and we’re bleeding for it. It’s a public health emergency," Councilman Jeff Warren, who sponsored the referendum, cited last year amid a surge in local violence.
