In yet another protest in favor of gun control, recently embattled State Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) attempted to bring a child-sized casket into the Tennessee House Chamber before he was forced to drop the prop.
“The rally made it inside the Capitol going through security,” News Channel 5’s Kelsey Gibbs reported. “Rep. Justin Jones and Bishop Barber are trying to enter the chamber with a casket. The sergeant of arms went to check and tells them they can’t bring the casket inside the House chamber.”
The rally made it inside the Capitol going through security. Rep. Justin Jones and Bishop Barber are trying to enter the chamber with a casket. The sergeant of arms went to check and tells them they can’t bring the casket inside the House chamber. @NC5 pic.twitter.com/SCa7XRGpRj
— Kelsey Gibbs (@kelseymgibbs) April 17, 2023
Such props run afoul of the Tennessee Legislature’s decorum rules.
Jones was recently expelled from the Tennessee House for breaking House rules during a protest-turned-riot which he helped lead. He was subsequently reinstated by the Metro Nashville Council on an interim basis.
Gun control has been the subject of a great deal of debate in the Volunteer State for the past few weeks after 28-year-old Audrey Elizabeth Hale, who identified as transgender, shot and killed six people, including three children, at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school in Nashville on March 27.
Responding officers killed Hale at the scene.
After weeks of turmoil, including the expulsion of Jones and his colleague State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), who was also later reinstated, Gov. Bill Lee (R) is caving to pressure from the anti-Second Amendment left.
“Today, I visited with [Metro Nashville Police Department] & outlined next steps to secure schools & protect Tennesseans … I’m asking the TN legislature to pursue a new ‘Order of Protection Law’ to separate dangerous individuals from firearms, while preserving constitutional rights,” Lee said on April 11. “I also signed an Executive Order to ensure the existing background check process provides TN law enforcement with up-to-date information & more closely guarantees the safe, lawful purchase of firearms.”
Tennessee Firearms Association (TFA) executive director John Harris criticized the governor for his decision.
“It is not clear why Governor Bill Lee, who claims to support the Second Amendment, would propose a Red Flag law at this time. The circumstances indicate potentially two reasons,” John Harris told The Tennessee Star. “First, the Covenant School shooting fatalities have generated a public emotional response – something that he referenced in his April 11 statement. Second, activist Democrat state legislators are making a demand that more gun control be enacted now.”
Harris said he believes the “Order of Protection Law,” also known as a “Red Flag Law,” would likely be unconstitutional.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.
Photo “Justin Jones” by Kelsey Gibbs.
The House broke their own rules allowing Joned & Pearson to return. The Code says a replacement substitute must be someone other than those expelled, until a Special Election is held. The precedent is set now. RULES HAVE NO CONSEQUENCES. STAND YOUR GROUND
Republicans. Follow your own Rules of Conduct. Next time this Activist pulls another stunt, expelled him again. This time for good. He has no work history. All he has ever done in life is act like a fool as an Activist.
New chant:
Jones got to go!
Jones wants his 5 minutes of fame. He didn’t get enough air time when he was stomping on top of police cars during BLM protests!
The language of the Tennessee Constitution specifies the appointed interim successor must be another person until a special election. Or else, why an expulsion? Obedience to their Constitutional oath would remedy this problem—and many others. In a Constitutional Republic, democracy and arbitrary power are restrained and the People, free.
Otherwise, simply protect our children and kids in their schools like our politicians, wealthy elites, media, pro athletes, etc, etc….and do not violate tbe Tennessee Declaration of Rights or the U.S. Bill of Rights!!!
Just another publicity stunt to gain attention rather than focusing on actual legislation to protect TN Schoolchildren. California Jones seems to prefer seeking the spotlight and gaining publicity to getting actual legislation through. smh
Just days before the horrific Monday Murders, California Jones voted Against protecting the very TN schoolchildren whose deaths he is now using to push his far left agenda and gain leftist media attention
Is anyone surprised? This is what happens when you reward bad behavior. We can thank the 2 “Conservative” members on the Council for not showing up to vote.
Barber has no business here except to stir up trouble. Jones will be trouble until you get rid of him. Send them both to chicago. Our metro council and city leaders are a joke.
Had Mr. Jones shown up with the child’s casket in front of Planned Parenthood clinic, that would have impact and save children.
Jones has already proven “rules of decorum” are foreign to him. He was expelled for it, he learned nothing from the sanction other than acting out gives his much sought public attention. Don’t give him the press coverage and he will fade away. As a legislator he has accomplished absolutely nothing. That ineffectiveness essentially lives the district unrepresented. The larger problem is his conduct results in the Assembly not being able to do other work, It is also people like Jones who cause other very well qualified individuals to not seek nor retain political office. Who would want to subject themselves to that type of a work environment?