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| Tennessee statehouse expels Democrats for gun control protest | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Embattled Tennessee Democratic state representatives Justin Pearson, Gloria Johnson and Justin Jones joined hands as they entered the House chamber on Thursday | Embattled Tennessee Democratic state representatives Justin Pearson, Gloria Johnson and Justin Jones joined hands as they entered the House chamber on Thursday |
| The Tennessee statehouse has expelled two Democratic politicians who led a gun control protest that halted legislative proceedings last week. | |
| In a rare move, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted 72-25 to expel Justin Jones and 69-26 to remove Justin Pearson. | |
| But an expulsion vote failed against a third Democratic lawmaker, Gloria Johnson, who joined the demonstration. | |
| Hundreds of protesters have flooded the State Capitol since a school shooting. | Hundreds of protesters have flooded the State Capitol since a school shooting. |
| The 27 March attack at Nashville's Covenant School killed six, including three children. | The 27 March attack at Nashville's Covenant School killed six, including three children. |
| The expulsion of Mr Jones and Mr Pearson marks the first such action has been taken without the support of both parties in Tennessee's modern history. | |
| A resolution to expel Ms Johnson fell one vote short of the required two-thirds majority. The margin was 65-30. Her supporters in the chamber cheered. | |
| Lawmakers had argued for hours on Thursday over the moves. Audible within the chamber were the shouts of protesters who still crowd the statehouse. | |
| Speaking on the House floor, former Representative Jones, who entered the chamber holding hands with Mr Pearson and Ms Johnson, called the expulsion vote a "farce of democracy". | Speaking on the House floor, former Representative Jones, who entered the chamber holding hands with Mr Pearson and Ms Johnson, called the expulsion vote a "farce of democracy". |
| The measure was a "violation", he said. "It is an attempt to silence and undo the will of over 200,000 Tennesseans whom the three of us represent." | The measure was a "violation", he said. "It is an attempt to silence and undo the will of over 200,000 Tennesseans whom the three of us represent." |
| Mr Jones and his two colleagues took to the House floor last Thursday, chanting "No action, no peace" and bringing the chamber's proceedings to a standstill for nearly an hour. | Mr Jones and his two colleagues took to the House floor last Thursday, chanting "No action, no peace" and bringing the chamber's proceedings to a standstill for nearly an hour. |
| The three lawmakers acknowledged they broke House rules by speaking without being formally recognised, but insisted their actions did not warrant expulsion. | The three lawmakers acknowledged they broke House rules by speaking without being formally recognised, but insisted their actions did not warrant expulsion. |
| But Republicans said the trio had brought "disorder and dishonour to the House". | |
| On Thursday, some Republican members said the Democrats' actions amounted to an insurrection, with House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican, comparing the incident to the Capitol Riots. | |
| Nashville police saw 'terrible things' at shooting | Nashville police saw 'terrible things' at shooting |
| Nashville police saw 'terrible things' at shooting | Nashville police saw 'terrible things' at shooting |
| "What they did today was equivalent, at least equivalent, maybe worse depending on how you look at it, to doing an insurrection in the State Capitol," he said. | "What they did today was equivalent, at least equivalent, maybe worse depending on how you look at it, to doing an insurrection in the State Capitol," he said. |
| Expulsion votes are exceptionally rare. In Tennessee, the House of Representatives has only twice voted to expel members. In 1980 it removed a sitting lawmaker who was convicted of soliciting a bribe and in 2016 a majority whip who was facing allegations of sexual misconduct was expelled. | |
| But those expulsions had strong support from both parties. | But those expulsions had strong support from both parties. |
| Before Thursday's votes began, House members debated more than 20 bills, some relating to school safety. | |
| Throughout the discussion, Mr Jones rose to speak several times, accusing his colleagues of passing "band-aid" legislation in response to mass shootings. | Throughout the discussion, Mr Jones rose to speak several times, accusing his colleagues of passing "band-aid" legislation in response to mass shootings. |
| "It is not action that will make our students safe," Mr Jones said. "I think we, as elected officials, have a moral responsibility to listen to these young people who are on the frontlines who are terrified, who are here, crying and pleading for their lives." | "It is not action that will make our students safe," Mr Jones said. "I think we, as elected officials, have a moral responsibility to listen to these young people who are on the frontlines who are terrified, who are here, crying and pleading for their lives." |
| In response, Republican Mark White - visibly aggravated - told Mr Jones: "Look at me. Look at the other 97 [lawmakers]. This is exactly what we're trying to do." | In response, Republican Mark White - visibly aggravated - told Mr Jones: "Look at me. Look at the other 97 [lawmakers]. This is exactly what we're trying to do." |
| Mr White continued: "I have been up here for 14 years, you have been in this assembly for two months, three months." | Mr White continued: "I have been up here for 14 years, you have been in this assembly for two months, three months." |
| Tennessee has some of the most relaxed gun control laws in the country. In 2021, the state passed a measure that allows residents over the age of 21 to carry handguns - concealed and unconcealed - without a permit. | Tennessee has some of the most relaxed gun control laws in the country. In 2021, the state passed a measure that allows residents over the age of 21 to carry handguns - concealed and unconcealed - without a permit. |
| Lawmakers and gun rights groups are working to lower that age to 18. | Lawmakers and gun rights groups are working to lower that age to 18. |
| There is no system of universal background checks and no "red flag" laws, which are designed to allow authorities to temporarily seize legally owned guns from those found to be a danger to themselves or others. | There is no system of universal background checks and no "red flag" laws, which are designed to allow authorities to temporarily seize legally owned guns from those found to be a danger to themselves or others. |
| Police said the Nashville shooter, who opened fire last week at the privately run Christian school, had legally purchased seven firearms on separate occasions. | Police said the Nashville shooter, who opened fire last week at the privately run Christian school, had legally purchased seven firearms on separate occasions. |
| Three of the weapons were used to kill three nine-year-old children and three members of the school staff. | Three of the weapons were used to kill three nine-year-old children and three members of the school staff. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Republican Party | Republican Party |
| Democratic Party | Democratic Party |
| Tennessee | Tennessee |
| United States | United States |