TN Lawmakers Are Protecting Children For Drag Shows, Not Guns
Earlier this month, Tennessee became the first state to restrict drag shows on public property or anywhere minors might be present.
After 3 children and 3 adults were killed in a mass shooting at a grade school in Nashville, TN, on March 27, many Twitter users noted what conservative lawmakers have recently been up to in the state: protecting children from drag shows, but not from guns.
Earlier this month, Tennessee became the first state to restrict drag shows on public property or anywhere minors might be present, with Gov. Bill Lee (R) describing the law as banning "sexualized entertainment in front of children."
But while the state is "protecting" children from drag, Republican lawmakers are working to expand access to guns. Last week, a bill that would allow 18-year-olds to openly carry firearms without a permit passed through the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee. Currently, you must be 21 years old to carry in Tennessee.
Tennessee has few restrictions in place for guns. The state does not have waiting periods on gun purchases, guns do not need to be registered with the state, and people do not need a permit to have a concealed handgun if they're 21 or older.