Families Emotional as TN Republican Leader Removes Gun Control Supporters from Hearing
In a dramatic turn of events at a legislative hearing in Tennessee, families affected by a fatal school shooting were left devastated as a Republican leader ordered the removal of gun control supporters from the hearing room. The emotional scene unfolded during the state’s special legislative session, called by Republican Governor Bill Lee to discuss proposals for keeping firearms away from dangerous individuals.
Sarah Shoop Neumann, a parent whose child attends The Covenant School, was among those family members waiting to testify in favor of gun control measures. However, before she had the chance to speak, she was forced to witness her fellow supporters being removed from the room. Overwhelmed with emotion, Neumann tearfully expressed her distress to reporters, saying, We’re just trying to do something.
The bill proposed by Governor Lee, which aimed to address the state’s relaxed gun laws, faced significant opposition from the Republican supermajority in the legislature. In a swift blow to gun control efforts, three variations of similar proposals for extreme risk protection orders immediately failed in the House subcommittee. The public was left disheartened, particularly after the earlier expulsion of two young Black Democratic lawmakers who had been advocating for gun control.
The Republican-controlled House had recently implemented new rules to penalize lawmakers for disruptive behavior and to limit public access to the legislative process. Despite these measures, gun control advocates found ways to make their voices heard, with some writing messages on their bodies and clothes, others using their phones to display their thoughts to lawmakers.
The tensions reached a breaking point when gun control advocate Allison Polidor was escorted out of a hearing room for holding a sign that read, 1 KID ALL THE GUNS. The situation escalated further when a Republican lawmaker announced that a bill allowing people with handgun carry permits to bring guns onto school premises had been stalled. This announcement prompted applause from gun control supporters, leading the subcommittee chairman to call for the room to be cleared by state troopers.
While the media and some members of the public were allowed to remain, the emotional toll on the families affected by the school shooting cannot be ignored. Their determination to change the state’s gun laws is met with resistance from the Republican supermajority, leaving them feeling unheard and overwhelmed.
The Legislature’s actions during this special session raise concerns about the ability of the Republican majority to address gun control and the limitations placed on public participation. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen what steps can be taken to bridge the divide and provide a safer environment for Tennessee’s schools.
