The Tennessee state Capitol was filled with drama again on Monday as lawmakers returned for a second week of work during the special session on public safety. The House plowed through legislation while the Senate quickly adjourned, sticking to the narrow slate of legislation it had already passed.
In the House, Democrats walked out en masse after a vote to silence Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville. House Speaker Cameron Sexton had ruled Jones out of order twice, leading to the controversial vote under new House rules.
By mid-morning, the House and Senate reached a deal to end their deadlock and both chambers adjourned before noon CT. House leaders expressed frustration that more was not accomplished during the special session. House Majority Leader William Lamberth said he hopes the bills left on the table will be taken up in January to help make Tennessee families safer.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton said the agreement to adjourn was reached after House and Senate leaders met with Gov. Bill Lee. He also mentioned a physical confrontation that occurred after adjournment, with Rep. Justin Pearson becoming aggressive towards the speaker. House Republican leaders criticized the Democratic caucus for not maintaining decorum and called them “a couple of bad apples trying to spoil the bunch.”
A Covenant mom, Mary Joyce, spoke out about her daughter’s experience of being hunted at school and expressed disappointment that nothing was done during the special session to protect children. Tennessee Democratic lawmakers also expressed their disappointment with the session, calling it a waste of time and taxpayer money. They promised to continue pushing for gun reform legislation in the regular January session.
Tempers flared on the House floor as the special session adjourned, leading to a physical confrontation between lawmakers. The House adjourned early, followed by the Senate, effectively ending the special session. Protestors in the gallery expressed their dissatisfaction with how the legislators handled the session, shouting and jeering at them.
The Senate adjourned after completing procedural matters, and a woman in the gallery protested that the chamber had done nothing to make the state safer. Rep. Justin Pearson climbed into the House gallery to thank and encourage demonstrators. As news of a deal between the House and Senate spread, one Covenant mom wept in the Senate gallery.
The Senate concurred with several changes proposed by the House on bills that had been approved last week. The House and Senate reached an agreement to end their deadlock and adjourned the special session.lion in funding.
The Senate also concurred with a House amendment to a bill that requires firearms to be stored in a locked container or equipped with a trigger lock when not in use. The amendment clarifies that the requirement does not apply to firearms carried by law enforcement officers or members of the military.
Both bills will now head to Governor Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.
— Vivian Jones, The Tennessean
House and Senate reach deal to end deadlock
The House and Senate reached a deal on Tuesday morning to end their deadlock and adjourn the special session on public safety. The agreement was reached after House and Senate leaders met with Governor Bill Lee.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, said that the impasse between the two chambers was resolved and that both chambers would adjourn before noon CT.
The Senate had previously adjourned early in the morning, while the House continued to work through legislation. Democrats walked out of the House chamber en masse after a vote to silence Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville.
— Melissa Brown, The Tennessean
House Republicans express disappointment over adjournment
House Republican leaders expressed disappointment that more was not accomplished during the special session on public safety.
House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, said that he was disappointed that many bills were left on the table and hopes they will be taken up in January to help make Tennessee families safer.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, also expressed disappointment and said that the agreement to adjourn was reached after meeting with Governor Bill Lee.
Despite the disappointment, Sexton said that he feels Tennesseans are “just a little bit safer” due to the measures passed during the special session.
— Vivian Jones, The Tennessean
Democrats criticize special session
Tennessee Democratic lawmakers criticized the special session on public safety, calling it a waste of time and taxpayer money.
House Minority Leader Karen Camper said that the session did nothing to make the public safer and that people expected more from their elected officials.
Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari lamented the outcome of the session and said that Tennessee did not become safer as a result. She promised that Democrats would continue pushing for gun reform legislation in the regular January session.
Camper also criticized Governor Bill Lee for his absence during the session and said that he failed to get something done.
— Angele Latham, The Tennessean
Physical confrontation on House floor
A physical confrontation broke out on the House floor after the adjournment of the special session. House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, were involved in the altercation.
Sexton said that he was trying to hold a news conference from the House floor when he was stopped by security. Pearson then approached Sexton and confronted him.
House Republican leaders criticized Pearson for his behavior and called it unnecessary and aggressive. They also criticized the Democratic caucus for not being able to keep their members within the bounds of decorum.
Sexton hinted that the controversial House rules may be adopted permanently in January.
— Melissa Brown, The Tennessean
Covenant mom expresses concern for her child’s safety
A Covenant mom, Mary Joyce, expressed her concern for her daughter’s safety during the special session on public safety. She said that her daughter was hunted at her school and hid from a woman with a high capacity rifle in her third grade classroom.
Joyce said that her daughter now worries daily if it will be her last day because of the traumatic experience. She criticized lawmakers ford activists who were disappointed with the outcome of the special session.
Many protestors expressed frustration with lawmakers for not taking stronger action on gun reform and public safety measures. They felt that the session was a waste of time and taxpayer money, with no meaningful legislation being passed.
One Covenant mom, Mary Joyce, emotionally shared her daughter’s experience of being in a lockdown during a school shooting. She expressed her disappointment in having to tell her child that nothing was done to protect them.
Democratic lawmakers also criticized the special session, calling it ineffective and a missed opportunity to make Tennessee safer. They vowed to continue fighting for gun reform in the regular January session.
Tempers flared on the House floor as the session adjourned, with a physical confrontation between lawmakers. House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Rep. Justin Pearson were involved in a heated exchange, while Majority Leader William Lamberth condemned the behavior as unnecessary.
Overall, the special session on public safety ended with disappointment and frustration from both lawmakers and the public. Many felt that not enough was done to address the pressing issues of gun violence and public safety in Tennessee.
How did the confrontation and protests during the special session on public safety in Tennessee affect the boundaries of decorum?
Boundaries of decorum.
The confrontation occurred amidst protests from the gallery, where demonstrators expressed their dissatisfaction with how the legislators handled the special session.
Despite the drama and disappointment, the House and Senate were able to reach an agreement to end their deadlock and adjourn the special session. Several bills were passed, including one that requires firearms to be stored securely when not in use.
The special session received criticism from Democrats, who felt that it was a waste of time and taxpayer money. They promised to continue advocating for gun reform in the regular January session.
Overall, the special session on public safety in Tennessee was marked by drama and controversy, leaving both lawmakers and citizens disappointed in the outcome.
