(The Center Square) – Tennessee lawmakers spared a bill that would designate Sept. 10 as Charlie Kirk Day in Tennessee.
Kirk was killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University.”He’s someone I think, is a luminary, not just for young folks but for all of us in public life,” said Brentwood Republican Gino Bulso, the bill’s sponsor.The bill spurred dissent from Democrats and heckling from a protester eventually escorted out of the committee room after the vote.Rep. Vincent Dixie, R-Nashville, told Bulso that he should be ashamed for bringing the bill.”This is embarrassing and it’s almost unfathomable that plenty of the bills that we have talked about here do nothing to help people’s lives, do nothing to put more food on the table, do nothing to help the unhoused, do nothing to help people get health care,” Dixie said. “But we’re putting these bills here to create a divisive culture which we should be coming together.”Dixie and Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, each referred to Kirk as a “racist” in opposing the bill. Jones called the bill “theological malpractice” and “a disgrace at the highest level of our state government.””It is unfortunate that Charlie Kirk was killed,” Jones said. “I’m someone who will continue to advocate against gun violence against all people. But what we cannot do is try and make him some type of Christian martyr when his life went counter to everything that our faith and our state should stand for.”Bulso defended Kirk, saying he was someone who conducted himself in public life without disparaging individuals.”And although you may disagree with some of his political views,” Bulso said. “That’s not unique, because I obviously don’t agree with everything Charlie Kirk said … but there’s no denying the fact that this was a once in a generation, conservative luminary who had a profound impact on our country and upon the world, and he’s someone who certainly deserves a place of honor in our history.”The bill passed 7-3 and moves to the House State and Local Government Committee. A Senate version of the bill, sponsored by Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, is in that chamber’s State and Local Government Committee.
