NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) – Before the Tennessee House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass Jillian’s Law on Monday, two lawmakers got into a heated debate over public safety. The exchange ended with shouts from both sides of the hallway and shouts from onlookers on the balcony.

The law, named after Jillian Ludwig, will involuntarily commit certain criminal defendants for hospital treatment and temporarily take away their gun rights if they are found incompetent to stand trial due to an intellectual disability or mental illness. . Ludwig was fatally shot while walking in a Nashville park on November 7. Her accused killer, Shaquille Taylor, was a repeat violent offender indicted in April 2023 on a separate charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Rep. Bo Mitchell (D-Nashville) and Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland) spent a few seconds in a passionate debate over HB1640.

“It would be nice if, at least once in this room, I introduced a bill that was a good step forward and some of my colleagues in this body would just stand up and say, ‘You know what, let’s take a good step together and show the people of Tennessee how we can come together and actually make this state safer,’” Rep. Lamberth said into the microphone. “If we did that more often, we would get to do more about this issue instead of just pontificating about it.”

“This is the step I’m looking for. This is the bill I introduced. This is the family I’m fighting for!” cried Lambert.

Lamberth’s words to Rep. Mitchell drew applause from the balcony and Speaker Cameron Sexton issued a warning.

“Don’t act like I don’t care about that family,” Mitchell yelled at Lamberth. “They shouldn’t be here in the first place if anyone here had acted last year when we were in session doing something. No, you started it! You’re acting like you’re the only one who cares.” here.”

“Do something! Do something more than just… No, I’m not going to cut off my microphone because you don’t like what I’m saying. Because it’s the truth.”

Both ended up voting in favor of the bill. Read more about Jillian’s Law here.

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