Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By Kelly M. Jackson] –
A bill that would have prohibited the use of local and state law enforcement for intelligence gathering operations with Tennesseans as the focus, died yesterday in the Senate Judiciary Committee because none of the members of that committee would motion for the bill to be heard.
The bill is sponsored by Senator Joey Hensley (R-D28-Hohenwald) and has very simple language.
Senate Bill 2804 (SB2804) states, “By deleting all language by the enacting clause and substituting section 1, of the Tennessee Code annotated Title 38, Chapter 8, pt. 1, is amended by adding the following new section: in the event a law enforcement agency in the state nominates personnel to be deputized as a federal task force officer on a joint terrorism task force, the chief law enforcement officer from the nominee’s respective law enforcement agency must approve each national security investigation in which the nominee participates.”
As explained on The Glenn Beck Show, Steve Friend, Fellow at Center for Renewing America, and FBI whistleblower exposing the weaponization of federal law enforcement resources on American citizens who carry out participation in what are objectively held Constitutionally protected activities such as church or school board attendance to exercise your 1st Amendment rights, the bill would protect Tennesseans who might become the focus of an intelligence gathering operation, and use tax payer funded local law enforcement resources to do it.
The FBI would have no obligation to inform the democratically elected sheriff that their deputies are being utilized to spy on the very citizens they have been charged by the Constitution to protect.
When asked by Beck, what the main source of opposition is against such a bill, Friend stated that the state level law enforcement and department of safety are to blame.
Friend said, “Well unfortunately the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland security which is an arm of the governor’s office has opposed us at every avenue here with this, and the communications we’ve received from them is that they (TBI and TN Homeland) don’t feel the sheriffs are entitled to know about what they work with the FBI on.”
He continued, “So they are all in with the federalization of law enforcement which is pretty a-constitutional from any conservative standpoint”.
Beck proceeds to point out the fact that the sheriff is the only elected law enforcement official in the entire group, and asks what rationale could the state have for determining the sheriff doesn’t have a right to know what types of activities their officers are engaged in?
The excuse, Friend explained, that has been offered by the state is that sharing the information with the local Sheriff’s department may impede the progress of any operation. And then there are also monetary benefits like equipment and other “goodies” that the state enjoys when brought into operations with the federal government.
See the entire Glenn Beck segment here or watch it below.
Friend, along with Paul Vaughn, a Wilson County man who was arrested and convicted for praying in front of a Mt. Juliet abortion clinic, for violation of the FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) both testified in front of the House Judiciary Subcommittee when the House companion bill, HB2912 was presented by its sponsor Representative Todd Warner (R-D92-Chapel Hill), last week.
In that hearing, the bill was held over for a second opportunity to be advanced, which would have taken place Wednesday, 4/3.
However, due to Tuesday’s events in the Senate Judiciary, the bill will not have an opportunity to be presented again and possibly moved forward through the committee process on the House side of the chamber.
When such things occur, the bill dies. And more often than not, it is intentional, and usually at the behest of Republican leadership according to Warner, who expressed his frustration and anger.
“I’m not sure what is worse, having government funded lobbyists work against a bill, or dealing with a committee that doesn’t seem to be able to think for themselves, or even consider what it is their constituents would want,” Warner said.
Warner also stated that had the bill made it past the Senate Sudiciary Committee, he had been advised that Republican House Leader William Lamberth (R-D44-Portland) was prepared to kill the bill in the House Criminal Subcommittee on Wednesday.
Warner said, “If the administration (state) does not like the bill, Governor Lee has the authority to use veto power. We don’t need government funded TBI lobbyists, Homeland Security lobbyists working against our bills”.
The committee, as all committees in the General Assembly in Tennessee, is dominated by Republicans. And in the case of the Senate Judiciary committee this week, it was missing one of the only 2 democrat members usually present.
The failure of the bill, laid entirely at the feet of the Republicans on the committee, will not have any opportunity for renewal next session.
Should there be any other legislative efforts, they would have to start from scratch next year in the next General Assembly.
The list of the committee members who chose not to hear the bill and its merits, are below as is their contact information for those that are inclined to reach out with any questions.
Chair: Senator Todd Gardenhire: sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov
Senator Dawn White: sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov
Senator Paul Rose: sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov
Senator Jon Lundberg: sen.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov
Senator Kerry Roberts: sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov
Senator John Stevens: sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov
Senator Brent Taylor: sen.brent.taylor@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Kelly Jackson is a recent escapee from corporate America, and a California refugee to Tennessee. Christ follower, Wife and Mom of three amazing teenagers. She has a BA in Comm from Point Loma Nazarene University, and has a background in law enforcement and human resources. Since the summer of 2020, she has spent any and all free time in the trenches with local grassroots orgs, including Mom’s for Liberty Williamson County and Tennessee Stands as a core member. Outspoken advocate for parents rights, medical freedom, and individual liberty. Kelly can be reached at kelly@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
