Justin J. Pearson Reappointed To TN House Of Representatives

On Wednesday, Justin J. Pearson, a Democrat from Memphis, was reappointed to the Tennessee House of Representatives by the Shelby County Commission.  Pearson and Representative Justin Jones, a Democrat from Nashville, were both expelled last week for protesting on the House floor in favor of gun control measures after three 9-year-old students and three adults were fatally shot by a person wielding an assault rifle at a Christian school in Nashville. The Republican supermajority of the Tennessee House also tried to oust Representative Gloria Johnson, a Democrat from Knoxville, but failed by a single vote.  Just days later, and on the heels of yet another deadly mass shooting with an assault rifle, this time at a bank in Kentucky,   Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order to strengthen background checks for firearm purchases.  Governor Lee is also calling for state lawmakers to pass an order of protection law to keep guns away from people who pose a threat to themselves or others.  Both Representative Jones’ and Representative Pearson’s appointments are interim and special elections for the seats will take place in the coming months. Jones and Pearson have said they plan to run in the special elections.