SUBJECT:  Don’t Expel Rep. Johnson, Jones, and Pearson from the TN State House

EMAILS: speaker.cameron.sexton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov; rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov; rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov 

Dear TN Representatives and Leadership,

 I hope this note finds you well. I am writing to ask you to not remove Representatives Johnson, Jones, and Pearson from the TN House of Representatives. These members were voted in by Tennesseans and have a right to stay in their seat. Together, they represent over 200,000 people across East, Middle, and West Tennessee. Expelling members because they exercised their First Amendment rights and decided to listen to the people in the chamber is unacceptable. I understand that there are other means to address being out of order, such as censure and reprimands, and I ask that you NOT expel our Representatives from the People’s House.

Our forbearers fought for us to be able to exercise our First Amendment rights and to speak up about things we want to change. Representatives Johnson, Jones, and Pearson spoke up and listened to the children, teenagers, and parents who wanted their pleas for gun control legislation heard. Unlike two other House members who were expelled before (one for bribery and the other for alleged sexual misconduct), Representatives Johnson, Jones, and Pearson are threatened with expulsion for peacefully speaking up against gun violence. Surely, censure or reprimand, and NOT expulsion, is a more appropriate way to address being out of order. Expulsion should be reserved for the most egregious crimes, and not simply for exercising our First Amendment rights.

The gun violence epidemic in our state is continuing to take many people’s lives including the lives of six people —3 children and 3 adults — at the Covenant School in Nashville. The Tennessee General Assembly can and must listen to the people in our communities who are grieving and want to be heard.

Representatives Johnson, Jones, and Pearson deserve to serve their community and to continue to elevate these important issues in the 113th Tennessee General Assembly. Thousands of Tennesseans voted them in, and we Tennesseans want them to stay. We ask you to listen to us, and to allow them to continue to serve our community as Representatives.

Sincerely,

Email Directory

speaker.cameron.sexton@capitol.tn.gov – Speaker Sexton

rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov – Rep. Farmer

rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov – Rep. Bulso

rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov  - Rep Hulsey

rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov - Leader Lamberth

rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov – Chairman Faison