MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The rain and overcast skies are not stopping some voters from casting their ballots today. Aside from voting for president, one key issue attracting attention, at least in the city of Memphis, is local gun reform and the opposition it's generated from state lawmakers. As voters head to the polls, one controversial issue taking center stage are the three gun-restriction questions on the November ballot. "We have to get out and vote," said Rodney Wells, Tyre Nichols' stepfather. This week, several Black male lawmakers and community leaders including Rodney Wells, showed their support for gun reform. "If we would have had gun legislation (and) assault rifle bans ten years ago, we might not have all these guns on the street today," Wells said. Memphis putting gun control measures up to city voters Back in July, the Memphis City Council approved a gun referendum measure to be put on the ballot. It asks voters if they want to allow the city charter to require permits to carry a handgun, ban the possession of AR-15 style rifles and implement a so-called "red flag ordinance", which allows law enforcement officials to remove firearms from those found to be an imminent danger to themselves or others. "We're trying to make it to where we don't have any future sale of automatic weapons, and we regulate the ones that are here," City Councilman Dr. Jeff Warren said. "So, people that own them keep them locked in their home in a safe. Take them to and from shooting ranges, but don't walk around the street with them." ELECTION GUIDE: Presidential, state and local races, Nov. 5, 2024 "I certainly understand and agree with the premise that the council put this under which is we need less guns in the community and we need more regulation around the guns," Mayor Paul Young said. However, the city council referendum prompted the state's top Republican lawmakers to threaten to withhold funding for Memphis and say that state laws supersede local gun ordinances. Gov. says Memphis ‘picking a fight with state’ over guns Mayor Young admitted he too has reservations about the measures. "My pushback is I know how much of a conflict it creates with the state and conflict it has with state law," Young said. "And the fact that we can't actually implement the things that are being passed in these referendums." Dr. Warren said he believes state lawmakers are capable of seeing some communities have different needs than the rest of the state. He said gun reform in Memphis is one of them. "So this (Memphis) is not trying to stick something in someone's face (the state)," Dr. Warren said. "It's more trying to ask for assistance, and I think the way you bring this to people is how they'll respond." For now, Memphis voters will have their say about gun reform. "The people will speak and they'll make their voices heard," Young said. "We'll see what happens afterward."