Three members of the public were removed from a subcommittee hearing at the Tennessee Capitol for advocating gun reform safety. This incident occurred one day after the House implemented rules banning visitors from displaying signs of any kind at committee meetings. The hearing was organized by the Tennessee House Civil Justice subcommittee and was part of a special legislative session called by Governor Bill Lee to discuss the state’s gun laws following The Covenant School shooting in March.
The Republican House members had adopted new disciplinary rules for the special session, including a ban on carrying signs in House galleries and committee meetings. However, less than a day after these rules were put into effect, three individuals, holding signs that read 1 KID > ALL THE GUNS, were forcibly removed by the Tennessee Highway Patrol at the request of Republican legislative members.
Videos of this incident circulated on social media platforms, including one posted by gun reform activist Shannon Watts. In her post, Watts expressed her disapproval of the actions taken by the Tennessee House subcommittee members and commended a woman who refused to leave, stating, You will have to drag me out. Moms will win.
The first person to be removed, Allison Polidor, asserted her First Amendment right when asked to leave the session. While being escorted out, Polidor also shouted at legislators, expressing her belief that the situation did not resemble democracy. Other attendees at the hearing voiced their opinions as well, with one woman highlighting that such actions were not taken against individuals bringing guns to schools.
After the three visitors holding signs were removed, the Chairman of the House Civil Justice Committee, Lowell Russell, ordered state troopers to clear all members of the public from the hearing upon hearing applause for a bill action. Russell later explained that the public had repeatedly been asked not to disrupt the committee hearing but had disregarded the requests.
In an interview with Scripps News Nashville, Polidor stated that she attended the hearing and brought the sign for the sake of her children and all children. She expressed her concerns about lawmakers’ inaction in relation to gun laws and the need for parents to have peace of mind regarding their children’s safety.
News reports indicate that Polidor and the others holding signs did not make any noise before being asked to leave by legislators.
While the incident at the Tennessee Capitol has sparked controversy, it highlights the ongoing debate surrounding gun reform safety laws in the United States. Advocates for stricter regulations argue that these measures are necessary to protect the lives of innocent individuals, particularly children, while opponents believe in safeguarding Second Amendment rights. The incidents at the hearing demonstrate the potential clash between free speech and decorum rules in the political arena, further fueling the debate on gun control in Tennessee and across the nation.
