Shelby County Election Commission declines to put Memphis gun restriction resolutions on ballot

The Memphis City Council is set to consider its next legal move after the Shelby County Election Commission refused Tuesday to place gun restriction referendums on the November ballot.

Acting on advice from Tennessee Elections Administrator Mark Goins, the commission opted against putting the questions to Memphis voters this fall, officials confirmed.

Shelby County Elections Administrator Linda Phillips issued a statement after a special meeting Tuesday saying, “The city of Memphis has requested that a charter amendment referendum ordinance be placed on the ballot. However, the state coordinator of elections has advised us, through a letter, that this ordinance may be preempted by state law. The state coordinator of elections guides us in administering elections, and we will follow his direction. If the city of Memphis decides to challenge this interpretation, we will respect the final decision made by the courts.”

The move comes in response to Memphis City Council’s decision to pace three referendums on the November ballot asking voters whether they approve amendments to the city charter requiring a handgun permit, restrictions on the storage of guns in cars, a ban on assault weapons such as AK-47s after Jan. 1, and authority to enact extreme risk protections orders, which are often referred to as red flag laws.



https://tennesseelookout.com/briefs/shelby-county-election-commission-declines-to-put-memphis-gun-restriction-resolutions-on-ballot/