Memphis Rep. Gillespie under fire from Democrats after traffic stop bill passes
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Republican Representative John Gillespie of Memphis and a House bill he sponsored are now coming under fire from Memphis Democrats.
The bill was aimed at stopping the local ban on traffic stops in Memphis.
“John Gillispie lied to Mr. & Mrs. Wells as to when this bill would be presented,” said Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis). “There is absolutely nothing new to the way they’re treating our legislation and nothing new to the way they’re treating our communities taking away local control on so many issues.”
The bill would repeal a Memphis City Council ordinance that banned pretextual stops – passed after the death of Tyre Nichols.
Tennessee lawmakers advance bill to undo Memphis’ traffic stop reforms after Tyre Nichols death
“I know they pass ordinances that violate state law and violate common sense,” Gillespie said. “I have constituents and I have neighbors and members of the community that are begging, begging, begging for safer streets and this will do exactly that.”
Democrats say Nichols’ parents wanted to be in Nashville to attend the House session when the bill was passed, but according to their attorney, Gillespie told them not to come because he did not plan to bring the bill to the floor.
“This is what they are. This is who they have been,” Pearson said. “They are operating with white supremacy and racism as their guiding post for how they’re going to legislate and it’s incumbent upon us to speak up and speak out against it.”
Democrats call the measure Republican overreach.
“The (Nichols) family is the most important part of it. They were the advocate for the ordinances that took place in Memphis and Memphis City Council made a decision that we should support and uphold,” said Representative Torrey Harris (D-Memphis).
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They say some state laws are making the crime problem worse.
“Our D.A., our police, everyone is following the laws put into place by us on the state level,” Harris said. “If there is an increase in crime it’s because of a law we put into place, permitless carry was put into place.”
As for reducing Memphis crime, lawmakers say will do their part.
“And we’re going to get there, but we don’t need the state of Tennessee or one member of the delegation Memphis making a decision on the whole place of Memphis,” Harris said.
Representative Gillespie recently said on social media, “I am committed to defending our state against crime. When crime is on the rise, our law enforcement must be equipped to combat it.”
He also released the following statement:
“My heart breaks for Tyre Nichols’ entire family. They have lost a son, and they are in unimaginable pain. I have talked with them, and I hope to continue to keep an open dialogue. They were aware that this item would be on the calendar today.
“My No. 1 priority has always been to improve public safety and to make Memphis a safe city again. This legislation is about enforcing the state laws we already have on the books. No local government should be allowed to make any city less safe, nor should our law enforcement ever be put in the position of choosing which laws they should enforce.”
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