.POTUS had harsh words for Tennessee's GOP lawmakers who expelled two of their colleagues for protesting in favor of gun reform on the state House floor Biden called the expulsion 'shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent.'
State Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson joined hundreds of demonstrators at the state Capitol on March 30 in calling for gun reform after the recent Nashville school shooting. The resolution to expel Jones on Thursday passed with a 72-25 vote, and the resolution to expel Pearson passed with a 69-26 vote. A resolution to expel Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson was also discussed, but it failed to pass.
Biden reiterated his calls for Congress to"ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines, require safe storage of firearms, eliminate gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability, and require background checks for all gun sales," urging state officials to do the same. After the votes Thursday, it was not lost on Johnson, who is white, that she remains a representative while Jones and Pearson, who are black, were ousted. In response to a reporter asking her about the differences in their outcomes, Johnson said,"I'll answer your question: It might have to do with the color of our skin."
— philip lewis April 6, 2023 Johnson also spoke up about how she has been marginalized and mistreated during her time in the state House for being the lone vote against the Republican speaker, state Rep. Cameron Sexton, a Republican.
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