In this Dec. 11, 2009, file photo, John Harris, executive director of the Tennessee Firearms Association, poses at his office in Nashville, Tenn. Harris’ group on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, denounced Tennessee’s first female House Speaker Beth Harwell as a ‘pink elephant’ and urged lawmakers to replace her as head of the chamber.NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Firearms Association on Tuesday denounced Tennessee’s first female House speaker as the “pink elephant in the room,” saying Republican Beth Harwell is not aggressive enough on gun rights and should be replaced as the chamber’s leader.
Harwell is seeking the Republican nomination for a fourth term as speaker when the House GOP caucus meets on Thursday. She is being challenged by Rep. Jimmy Matlock of Lenoir City. While the vote for speaker won’t occur until the General Assembly reconvenes in January, that election should only be a formality as Republicans hold 74 of 99 seats in the lower chamber.
The Tennessee Firearms Association has long criticized Harwell, even though the Legislature has passed several measures loosening firearms restrictions in Tennessee while she has been speaker. They include:
– Allowing faculty and staff to be armed on the campuses of public colleges and universities.
– Keeping cities and counties from enacting gun bans in public parks, playgrounds and sports fields.