Tennessee’s Republican top leaders threatened Monday to withhold state funding of tens or millions of dollars from the left-leaning Memphis if leaders continued with plans to put three local gun control measures on the ballot in November.

Memphis’ City Council approved earlier this year asking voters if they want to change the city charter in November to require permits for handguns, ban the ownership of AR-15 style weapons and implement the so-called “red flag” ordinance which allows law officials to remove firearms if found to be a danger to others or themselves.

The city council discussed the ballot measures more than a full year ago, at times acknowledging that they could risk the ire from the Republican-dominated Legislature as the measures may conflict with Tennessee’s lax firearm laws.

The city council members who represent the most populous region of the state, which is dominated by Blacks, said that they were “willing to roll the dice.”

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“This is a chance for citizens to speak in Memphis,” said Councilman Chase Carlisle during a 2023 committee meeting when the first measures were being considered. “I don’t think it matters whether the Constitution is enforceable or not. I believe it’s a chance for the General Assembly to understand our current situation as a municipality, regardless of whether they listen or not. “And to give voice to people.”

“We’ll take the chance.” We will respond accordingly if the General Assembly wishes to punish us or our citizens because they asked for help. But that would be heartbreaking,” Carlisle said.

In 2021 the Republican legislators and GOP Gov. Bill Lee approved the permitless carrying of handguns, and in May this year he banned local governments from implementing red flag laws. Many within the same Republican supermajority, however, have rejected calls to limit firearms. This effort has increased since a gunman killed three adults and nine-year-olds at a Nashville, Tennessee private school in 2013.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton, and Senate Speaker Randy McNally released a joint statement on Monday to warn Memphis of the dangers of voting for ballot measures that are against the Statehouse’s wishes.

McNally, a Republican Oak Ridge resident, stated in a statement that the Tennessee Constitution outlines clearly the roles and responsibilities for the state and local government. “Shelby County must understand that, despite its hopes and wishes for the contrary,” McNally said in a statement.

After the statement, Secretary of state Tre Hargett warned his office that it would not approve Memphis ballots if they included gun initiatives.

“Common sense tells us that local governments cannot override the state’s law in order to issue a license to a 12-year old, nor can they override any other state’s laws. Memphis does not have the authority to circumvent any state laws. Our office will reject a ballot that contains items that are already covered by state law.

Memphis received almost $78 million in sales tax revenues last year. The city’s budget is currently $858 million.

In response to the ultimatum of the Legislature, Mayor Paul Young said: “Guns present a different threat to residents of Memphis as they do to some other municipalities. But we understand that we must work with our State to determine a tool set to restore peace to our community.” The voters and legislative branches will decide what happens next.

Memphis has been criticized by white members of Tennessee’s majority-majority legislature for years, especially the management of crime rates. They have also expressed mistrust over the response given by Black city leaders. In 2023, Memphis saw 398 murders and a jump in burglaries to over 14,000; a record.

According to preliminary statistics from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, released by the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission in the first six months of 2024, the reported crime rate in Memphis for almost all major categories remained lower than the first six months of 2023, including violent crimes such as murder, rape and aggravated attack. In the first half of this year, the violent crime rate decreased by 5.1% compared to 2023. All four categories showed a reduction. The commission didn’t go into detail on why rates decreased.

The trust was further eroded this year, when Republican legislators and the Governor signed off on legislation intended to undo reforms made by police officers in traffic stops after Tyre Nichols’ fatal beating last year. The Memphis City Council had passed an ordinance that prohibited so-called pretextual stops of minor traffic violations, such as a broken rearlight. Despite emotional pleas from Nichols family, the Legislature refused to back down.