MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tennessee's attorney general is calling Memphis' effort to place a referendum on gun control measures in the city a "futile stunt" that could incur hefty legal fees. However, the office will not file an emergency appeal to stop them. “These ballot questions are a fraud on the voters of Memphis,” said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti in a statement. “They will not change the law. This is a futile stunt that wastes time and money when the city council should focus on ensuring existing laws are enforced." He continued, "However, we respect the court's analysis of whether the vote should proceed and will not file an emergency appeal. This is Memphis's mistake to make and will ultimately be Memphis's mistake to pay for, as the state preemption law authorizes triple attorney's fees against cities in violation." Memphis City Council voted in July to place a referendum on the November ballot asking voters if they favored amending the city's charter to include a ban on the sale of assault weapons, allow red light laws, and require gun owners to lock up their weapons in the city, if approved. It comes after Memphis set homicide records in recent years — 398 last year. Memphis also leads the nation in the rate of guns stolen from cars, with more than 3,000 in 2022, a sharp increase that began after the state passed a law allowing guns to be stored in vehicles. “Memphis has been shot and is bleeding out,” City Council Member Jerri Green said at a recent press conference. But the ballot questions immediately drew fire from state Republicans, who threatened to withhold state sales tax revenue from Memphis because of the effort. “Trying to override that is just picking a fight with state government,” Gov. Bill Lee said. The Shelby County Election Commission removed its gun-control referendum from the November ballot, under the direction of state election coordinator Mark Goins. Memphis then sued the election commission. A judge ruled Sept. 11 that three gun control questions can go on the November ballot in Memphis, because the city had not yet amended the charter and the questions are just proposals. It is not immediately clear whether the questions will be back on ballots.