Protesters Rally for Gun Control in Tennessee as Special Session on Public Safety Commences

Republican Governor Calls Special Session on Public Safety

Republican Governor Bill Lee has called a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly to address "public safety." The session, which began on Monday, has attracted Left-leaning protesters advocating for more gun control.

Topics to be Discussed

The decision to hold the session comes after a transgender-identifying shooter killed six people at The Covenant School in Nashville. Governor Lee has expressed support for a variation of a red flag law and has included mental health, gun storage guidelines, human trafficking, and temporary mental health orders of protection as topics to be discussed during the session.

Senate and House Sessions

The first meeting of the Senate was short, lasting only 20 minutes, while the House session lasted nearly two hours. Republican Senator Janice Bowling argued that there was no emergency that warranted the extra meeting and moved to end the session. Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson previously stated that red flag laws and any order of protection laws had no chance of passing during the special session.

Debate on Disciplinary Rules

The House of Representatives engaged in a debate regarding the adoption of new disciplinary rules for members causing disruptions. Democrats argued that these rules were undemocratic, while Rep. Justin Jones accused Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton of being racist. It is worth noting that Jones had previously been expelled from the House for participating in a protest that disrupted proceedings.

Passing of Rules Package

The rules package, which aims to provide equality for members representing 7 million Tennesseans, has passed after 80 minutes of debate with a vote of 73-23. Republican Rep. Gino Bulso emphasized the importance of civility, stating that members who cannot conduct themselves with civility should step down.

Criticism of Republicans

Democrat Rep. Jeremy Pearson has criticized Republicans for offering only thoughts and prayers after shootings. Pearson, who was expelled for leading a protest from the House floor, had previously voted against a bipartisan bill that included school safety measures following the Covenant shooting.

Protesters Demand Gun Reform

Protesters in Nashville expressed their anger and frustration towards Republican lawmakers by chanting and screaming at them as they left the House floor after the session ended. The protesters were advocating for gun reform and demanding action to protect children instead of prioritizing guns. Many of them held signs with messages such as "we demand gun reform," "protect kids not guns," and "no more dead children." Some of the protesters were affiliated with organizations like Moms Demand Action and a group called Covenant mothers, and they were joined by several other groups wearing their shirts.

Opposition to Red Flag Laws

At a recent event, there were individuals who expressed their opposition to red flag laws. One attendee, Chavez Lopez, an electrical engineer from Nashville, attended the event to voice his support for the Second Amendment. He expressed disappointment at the lack of pro-Second Amendment protesters in attendance.