Title: Tennessee House Silences Democratic Representative During Public Safety Session
In a controversial move, the Republican-controlled Tennessee House of Representatives voted to silence Democratic member Rep. Justin Jones during a special session on public safety. Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton ruled Jones out of order twice during the debate, leading to a vote to silence him for the remainder of the day. The vote passed along party lines, 70-20, sparking outrage among Democrats who walked out in protest.
Jones alleges that he was silenced because he had proposed a vote of no confidence against Speaker Sexton. Undeterred, Jones plans to propose another vote of no confidence when the state’s next legislative session starts in January. This comes after Jones, along with another Democratic member, was expelled in April for calling for gun reform in the wake of a mass shooting at a Nashville school. Interestingly, Republicans expelled Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, both Black, but spared Rep. Gloria Johnson. However, Jones and Pearson were re-elected in special elections held earlier this month.
Governor Bill Lee had called for the special session to pass an order of protection law following the shooting, but there has been little legislative progress in terms of gun-related legislation. This lack of action has disappointed gun control advocates who were hoping for more stringent measures.
The incident during the session unfolded when Jones criticized proposals allowing private schools to adopt their own handgun carry policies. He was then ruled off-topic during a discussion on a bill that would allow local police or sheriff’s offices to assign officers to schools without security. Democrats and gun control advocates sitting in the gallery strongly protested the vote to silence Jones, leading to them being cleared out for disorderly behavior.
Majority Leader William Lamberth accused the Democrats of abandoning their work and posts, adding to the growing tension among party lines. As the state’s legislative session comes to an end, the glaring divide between Republicans and Democrats regarding gun control remains unresolved.
As the clock ticks closer to next year’s legislative session, all eyes will be on Rep. Justin Jones and his proposed vote of no confidence against Speaker Sexton. The ongoing debate surrounding gun-related legislation in Tennessee continues to shape the state’s political landscape, leaving both supporters and opponents anxious for a resolution.
