Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed an executive order to tighten background checks and called for a "red flag" law to make it easier to remove guns from people who pose a danger. This move comes in the wake of a school shooting and the expulsion of two Black Democratic lawmakers who called for greater firearm restrictions. Gun reformers in the state have welcomed the move, and it is now up to the state legislature to pass the necessary legislation.
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Tennessee has been facing increasing political and racial tensions due to the state's Republican lawmakers taking steps to reduce the representation of Democrats, including the unprecedented expulsion of two Black Democrats from the state Assembly. This has been widely condemned by Democrats across the country, including President Joe Biden, and Tennessee Democratic Rep. Justin Jones has called for state House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) to resign. The situation remains unresolved, but it is clear that the state's Republican lawmakers have been taking steps to reduce the representation of Democrats.
Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones was reinstated this week after being expelled from the House of Representatives for protesting gun violence in response to a school shooting in Nashville. His reinstatement has garnered national attention, and he has vowed to continue fighting for stricter gun laws. Jones referenced the students who motivated his and fellow Democrats’ call for action on guns when he was expelled, saying “It was students walking out of classes and taking to this Capitol that led us into the well that day, calling for common sense gun laws.”
Judges Issue Temporary Decision Allowing Nashville to Keep its Current City-County Government System
Judges Issue Temporary Decision Allowing Nashville to Keep its Current City-County Government System
Key takeaways: The city of Nashville has been operating under a combined city-county government system since 1963, with 40 council members and strong representation for…
Nashville Metro Council has voted to reappoint Tennessee Democratic Rep. Justin Jones to the state House, following his expulsion from the House last Thursday for participating in a peaceful gun protest. Supporters of Jones gathered to show their support, and the vote is a sign of solidarity with the young, Black men who were silenced for speaking out against gun violence.
Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, who was expelled from the GOP-dominated House of Representatives last week, is shocked at reports of legislators threatening local officials with funding cuts if he is reappointed. Rep. Gloria Johnson, who also participated in the protest, survived the vote and was not expelled. The Metro Council is meeting Monday to consider reappointing Rep. Jones, and the outcome of the meeting will show whether they stand up to the threats made by the state legislature.
The Tennessee House of Representatives is set to reconvene Monday, with the Nashville Metropolitan Council meeting to consider the recent expulsion of two young Black lawmakers. The expulsion, which was a two-thirds majority vote cast by their Republican colleagues, has sparked national attention to racial dynamics in the state's top legislative body. Demonstrators are expected to gather at the Capitol to protest the expulsion and the outcome of the Council's meeting is yet to be seen.
Nashville's Metro Council and Shelby County Commission are set to hold special meetings this week to decide whether to reinstate former Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones and Memphis Rep. Justin Pearson, respectively, to their seats after they were expelled from the Republican-led Tennessee House last week for joining a protest demanding stricter gun control. If reinstated, Jones and Pearson intend to run in the special elections for the vacated seats, and the outcome of the meetings will have a significant impact on the state's political landscape.