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☆ Biden sets up White House office on gun violence prevention
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Jeff Mason | Thomson Reuters | Jeff Mason Is A White House Correspondent For Reuters. He Has Covered The Presidencies Of Barack Obama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"But in the absence of that sorely-needed action, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention along with the rest of my Administration will continue to do everything it can to combat the epidemic of gun violence that is tearing our families, our communities, and our country apart,” he said. Democrats largely favor stricter gun laws as a way to reduce deaths from gun violence at schools and in cities across the country. Establishing a new office of gun violence prevention has long been on the wish list of anti-violence advocacy groups that were happy with Biden's record pushing for reforms but wanted the White House do more. White House adviser Stefanie Feldman, Biden's staff secretary, will serve as the director of the office, and gun safety advocates Greg Jackson and Rob Wilcox will join the White House as deputies. “We are so pleased that the Biden administration has officially created an Office of Gun Violence Prevention," said Kris Brown, president of Brady, an advocacy group.

Persons: Cheney Orr, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, “ I’ll, Biden, ”, Harris, Stefanie Feldman, Greg Jackson, Rob Wilcox, Feldman, Kris Brown, Brady, Jeff Mason, Dan Whitcomb, Leslie Adler, Deepa Babington Organizations: Chamber, Covenant School, Tennessee State Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Republicans, National Rifle Association, Democrats, Safer Communities, White, Gun, FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Thomson Locations: Nashville , Tennessee, U.S

☆ Opinion | I Put My Money on the Weeping Mothers at the Tennessee State Capitol
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Margaret Renkl | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“No Significant Action Taken on TN Gun Laws” read the headline of The Tennessean on Wednesday, the day after the Tennessee General Assembly ended a special legislative session on gun safety. To call that headline an understatement is itself an understatement. Since then, every single day she worries if it will be her last because it almost was. As a mother, I’m going to have to look at my 9-year-old in the eye and tell her nothing. During the special session, which cost Tennessee taxpayers $58,000 a day, Republicans passed no legislation that would have any significant effect on gun violence in the state.

Persons: ”, Mary Joyce, ” Ms, Joyce, I’m Organizations: Tennessee General Assembly, Covenant School, Covenant Families Action Locations: Tennessee

☆ Tennessee lawmakers open special session in wake of school shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Brad Brooks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Protesters gather near the Tennessee State Capitol building ahead of a special session on public safety to discuss gun violence in the wake of the Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., August 21, 2023. REUTERS/Seth Herald Acquire Licensing RightsAug 21 (Reuters) - Tennessee lawmakers on Monday opened a special session focused on public safety that was sparked by a deadly school shooting earlier this year, as hundreds of protesters marched on capitol grounds demanding change. Hundreds of protesters demanding tougher gun laws arrived at the Tennessee capitol in Nashville. Lee called the special session in response to the murder of three children and three staff members at The Covenant School in March in Nashville. The shooting triggered intense protests at the state capitol and led to the expulsion of two Democratic lawmakers after they helped lead protests from the House floor.

Persons: Bill Lee, Lee, Nashville Mayor John Cooper, Brad Brooks, Mary Milliken, Stephen Coates Organizations: Protesters, Tennessee State Capitol, Covenant School, REUTERS, Seth, Monday, Republican, Constitutional, The Covenant School, Nashville Mayor, Thomson Locations: Nashville , Tennessee, U.S, Tennessee, Nashville, Longmont , Colorado

☆ Protests, pleas and prayers as Tennessee legislature opens gun safety special session
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[16/23]A person gestures in the gallery of the House Chamber during a special session on public safety to discuss gun violence in the wake of the Covenant School shooting, at the Tennessee State Capitol, in Nashville, Tennessee, August 22. REUTERS/Cheney OrrNASHVILLE, TN, UNITED STATES

Persons: Cheney Orr Organizations: Chamber, Covenant School, Tennessee State Capitol, REUTERS, UNITED STATES Locations: Nashville , Tennessee, Cheney Orr NASHVILLE, TN

☆ Tennessee G.O.P. Cuts Session Short With No Action on Gun Control
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Emily Cochrane | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

NASHVILLE — Hundreds of students, parents and teachers marched to the Tennessee State Capitol, day after day, demanding a ban on assault weapons and action on gun control. Their calls were echoed by musicians like Amy Grant and Sheryl Crow, who trekked to the legislature to personally lobby lawmakers after a mass shooting at a Nashville Christian school. Several faith leaders joined the effort, writing to Republican leaders to urge them to support a proposal that would help temporarily restrict access to guns for people found by a court to be a danger to themselves or others. But on Friday, just under a month after the attack at the school, Republicans instead cut short the year’s legislative session and punted on any measure dealing explicitly with guns, capping a whirlwind three months of lawmaking that underscored the power of the far-right flank of the Republican Party in Tennessee and saw the brief expulsion of two Black Democratic lawmakers. “We’re not going anywhere,” she added.

“Based on the completed staff investigation, the Ethics Subcommittee finds that Representative Campbell violated the Policy” against workplace discrimination and harassment, the memorandum from the workplace discrimination and harassment subcommittee states. Reps. Justin Pearson, Justin Jones, and Gloria Johnson leave the Tennessee State Capitol after a vote at the Tennessee House of Representatives to expel the three Democratic members for their roles in a gun control demonstration. Cheney Orr/ReutersReps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, both young, Black Democrats who represent Districts 52 and 86 respectively, were ousted from the GOP-dominated chamber. Jones and Pearson returned to the Tennessee House after they were reappointed through unanimous votes by local officials in their respective districts. The subcommittee said in its memo that it “is committed to protecting members, employees, and visitors by providing an environment free of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.

☆ Protesters demand action on gun safety legislation at Tennessee state capitol
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Dave Lucas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The National Rifle Association's meeting is taking place at a key moment in the Republican presidential campaign. The gun rights lobby has also come under pressure from the at least 149 mass shootings around the country since the start of the year.

Justin Jones pumped his fist and declared "power to the people" as he returned to the state House of Representatives after being restored by the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County. His colleague Justin Pearson, the other young Black legislator who was expelled, could get a similar vote for reinstatement on Wednesday when the Shelby County Board of Commissioners will consider reappointing him to his Memphis district. The conflict has captured national attention and served as a rallying cry for Democrats over the issues of democracy, gun violence and racial inequality. Republican lawmakers have remained largely silent since voting to oust Jones and Pearson. Reporting by Sandra Stojanovic and Omar Younis; Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Nashville-area board may return lawmaker expelled from Republican-controlled statehouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Daniel Trotta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

April 10 (Reuters) - A Nashville-area county council meeting on Monday may vote to return to the statehouse one of two Democratic Tennessee lawmakers who were expelled from the chamber last week after participating in a gun control protest. Returning Jones would send a pointed message to the Republicans who expelled him. A Memphis-area board of commissioners plans on Wednesday to consider reappointing Pearson on an interim basis to the seat from which he was removed. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris flew to Nashville on Friday to support the three Tennessee lawmakers targeted for expulsion. Jones, 27, was elected to Tennessee's House of Representatives last year.

☆ Nashville-area board may return Democratic lawmaker who was expelled from Republican-controlled statehouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Daniel Trotta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Cheney OrrApril 10 (Reuters) - A Nashville-area county council may return to the statehouse one of two Democratic Tennessee lawmakers who were expelled from the chamber last week over a gun control protest when it meets on Monday to fill the vacant seat. On Wednesday, a Memphis-area board of commissioners will consider reappointing Pearson to the seat from which he was removed. Jones and Pearson both said on Sunday they hoped to be reappointed and that they would run again in special elections. Republicans also targeted Johnson but came up one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed to oust her. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris flew to Nashville on Friday to support the three Tennessee lawmakers targeted for expulsion.

☆ Nashville-area board may send expelled Tennessee lawmaker back to statehouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Daniel Trotta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Cheney OrrApril 10 (Reuters) - A Nashville-area county council may return to the statehouse one of two Democratic Tennessee lawmakers who were expelled from the chamber last week over a gun control protest when it meets on Monday to fill the vacant seat. Returning Jones would send a pointed message to the Republicans who accused him of violating decorum. On Wednesday, a Memphis-area board of commissioners will consider reappointing Pearson to the seat he was removed from. Jones and Pearson both said on Sunday they hoped to be reappointed and that they would run again in special elections. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris flew to Nashville on Friday to support the three Tennessee lawmakers targeted for expulsion.

☆ Tennessee state legislature has 'always been a toxic work environment,' according to ousted Black lawmakers who say they've had a' target' on them from the start
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Two ousted Tennessee lawmakers said that the state legislature has always been "toxic." Former Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson told NBC News they've always had a "target" on them. Jones and Pearson were expelled last week by their GOP colleagues over their gun control protest. "It has always been a toxic work environment to work in the Tennessee State Capitol," Pearson said during an interview Sunday on NBC News' "Meet the Press" alongside Jones. Jones also accused the GOP-led Tennessee House of Representatives of being "more beholden to the NRA than their own people and their own districts" and specifically called out Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton.

☆ Harris backs expelled Tennessee lawmakers, chides Republicans for ousting them
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Cheney Orr | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Republicans who control the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday expelled two young Black lawmakers who last week led protesters into the well of the House floor, while a resolution to remove a white representative came up one vote short. The Republicans ousted Justin Pearson, 28, of Memphis, and Justin Jones, 27, from the Nashville area. They staged the protest for gun reforms following the March 27 shooting at a Nashville school that killed three 9-year-old students and three adults. With a 75-23 advantage over Democrats in the House, Tennessee Republicans took the extraordinary measure to expel their Democratic colleagues, citing their disruption of orderly House business. Just two state lawmakers had previously been expelled since the U.S. Civil War.

☆ Harris visits Tennessee after lawmakers expelled over gun protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Cheney Orr | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/7] U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during an address after the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel two Democratic members, representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, for their roles in a gun control demonstration at the Tennessee State Capitol, in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., April 7, 2023. Just two state lawmakers had previously been expelled since the U.S. Civil War. Tennessee Representative Yusuf Hakeem, a Democrat, said Harris' visit showed "the White House is very interested and concerned in a meaningful way," adding that he does not expect protests to fade. Nearly 50 organizations, led by gun safety advocacy group the Newtown Action Alliance, called for nationwide student walkouts in solidarity with those in Tennessee. Members of the Tennessee General Assembly's Black Caucus at a news conference on Friday said Republicans had sunk to new lows.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 6 (Reuters) - Republicans in control of the Tennessee House of Representatives expelled two Democratic representatives on Thursday for breaking decorum during a gun control demonstration at the statehouse last week in the wake of the latest school shooting. The resolution to oust a third Democratic member who stood with them during the protest on the House floor, Gloria Johnson, a white woman, came up one vote short. That protest came four days after a Nashville school shooting killed three 9-year-old children and three school staff members. [1/10] Protesters gather in the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., April 6, 2023. Johnson, Jones and Pearson have said that taking part in the protest was within their First Amendment rights - the constitutional right to freedom of speech.

☆ Harris chides Tennessee Republicans for ousting state lawmakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Cheney Orr | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Republicans ousted Justin Pearson, 28, of Memphis, and Justin Jones, 27, from the Nashville area. They staged the protest for gun reforms following the March 27 shooting at a Nashville school that killed three 9-year-old students and three adults. [1/7] U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during an address after the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel two Democratic members, representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, for their roles in a gun control demonstration at the Tennessee State Capitol, in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., April 7, 2023. With a 75-23 advantage over Democrats in the House, Tennessee Republicans took the extraordinary measure to expel their Democratic colleagues, citing their disruption of orderly House business. Just two state lawmakers had previously been expelled since the U.S. Civil War.

☆ Tennessee Republicans likely to expel three Democratic lawmakers from statehouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Brad Brooks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Rep. Justin Pearson, Rep. Justin Jones, Rep. Gloria Johnson People hold their hands up as they exit the House Chamber doors at the Tennessee State Capitol Building, in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. April 3, 2023. April 6 (Reuters) - Republicans who control the Tennessee House of Representatives will vote on Thursday on whether to expel three Democratic members for their role in a gun control demonstration at the statehouse last week. Three Democratic lawmakers stood on the House floor and used a bullhorn to lead protesters in chanting demands for stricter gun laws. The expulsion vote is likely to easily pass in the Republican-dominated House and lead to the ouster of Rep. Gloria Johnson, Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson. Republicans Rep. Andrew Farmer, Rep. Gino Bulso, and Rep.

☆ A Tennessee legislator facing expulsion from the House for protesting gun violence during a session says other lawmakers have done much worse and weren't immediately punished
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

One of the lawmakers facing expulsion told Insider that past legislators in the Tennessee House have done much worse than what they did but were not immediately punished for their actions. "It's unprecedented because we have had disruptions bigger than that where no one was even reprimanded," Rep. Gloria Johnson told Insider Tuesday. "I knew we were breaking a House rule, and I know there is a consequence for breaking a House rule," Johnson told Insider. Rep. Justin Pearson, Rep. Justin Jones, Rep. Gloria Johnson People hold their hands up as they exit the House Chamber doors at the Tennessee State Capitol Building, in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. April 3, 2023. "I want to stop the guns before they ever get to the schoolhouse doors," Johnson told Insider.

☆ Tennessee Republicans 'shrugging' after school shooting, White House says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Protesters gather outside the Tennessee State Capitol to call for an end to gun violence and support stronger gun laws after a deadly shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. March 30, 2023. REUTERS/Cheney Orr//File PhotoWASHINGTON, April 4 (Reuters) - Republicans in Tennessee who are moving to oust Democratic legislators for joining an anti-gun violence protest are "shrugging in the face" of another school shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday. Republican-majority Tennessee's state legislature took the first steps on Monday to expel Democratic legislators who joined hundreds of young protesters last week following a shooting at a school in Nashville that killed six people, including three children, on March 27. "What they're doing with these three Democratic legislators are shrugging in the face of yet another tragic school shooting while our kids continue to pay the price," Jean-Pierre said. Reporting by Jeff Mason and Trevor Hunnicutt; Writing by Heather Timmons; editing by Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Republicans in Tennessee 'shrugging' after school shooting, White House says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

☆ Protesters crowd Tennessee capital for gun reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsProtesters crowd Tennessee capital for gun reformPostedPeople rallied at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville on Thursday (March 30) to call for gun reform following the shooting at Covenant School that left three children and three adults dead.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, March 30 (Reuters) - Protesters flooded Tennessee's statehouse on Thursday to demand lawmakers stiffen gun laws following a school shooting in Nashville that left six people dead, three of them 9-year-old children. Demonstrators held aloft placards reading "No More Silence" and "We have to do better" while chanting "Do you even care?" In the latest incident, the shooter killed three pupils and three staff members at Nashville's Covenant School. Republican lawmakers in Tennessee this week delayed hearings on gun legislation that would expand access to firearms. [1/5] Counter protesters hold anti-trans signs outside the Tennessee State Capitol to call for an end to gun violence and support stronger gun laws after a deadly shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. March 30, 2023.

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