What readers say about Tennessee lawmakers seeking to expel three colleagues | Letters
My email inbox blew up Thursday from readers across the nation who had something to say about the Tennessee House of Representatives debating the expulsion of three Democratic colleagues.
Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, were accused of "disorderly behavior" for encouraging protesters in the House gallery demanding solutions against gun violence in violation of House rules.
Jones was the first to address the charges. He was expelled 72-25.
Johnson survived her proposed ouster when the necessary two-thirds vote failed, 65-30.
Pearson was expelled by a vote of 69-26.
Below find a sample of the letters from citizens in Tennessee and across the country.
-- David Plazas, opinion and engagement director. Email me your thoughts at dplazas@tennessean.com.
Editorial: Expelling these Tennessee lawmakers is an outrage; Cameron Sexton should show grace
Letter: Circle of Elders: Why we stand with Reps. Johnson, Jones and Pearson
Thought, irresponsible inaction
It seems to me that the three Democrats have been absolutely accountable for their actions by taking part in the Capitol demonstration.
It's the Tennessee Republicans who have been thoughtless and irresponsible by not even considering reasonable gun reform.
Robert Stackhouse, Nashville 37214
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Lawmakers were courageous
With regards to the possible removal of the three legislators who expressed the concerns of their constituents about gun regulations in Tennessee: please vote and advocate to keep them in their duly elected positions in the House.
Tennessee and the House will be seen as overreacting, overreaching and some would even say fascist (a word I do not use lightly), not just across the country, but by the silent majority of voters in Tennessee.
The perceived lack of decorum was not out of line considering the circumstances of the tragic shooting and mutilation of three innocent children and the three adults charged with their care.
In fact, their courage to take steps to be heard in the face of the Speaker's blatant dismissal is admirable.
That Republicans want to remove the three legislators, who are all Democrats, is not only bad optics but also implies that Republicans do not abide by the basic American expectation of fair elections. I (and other voters) will be watching and will be thinking of you and your fellow Representatives' votes, words and actions when next we vote.
Darby Mori, Franklin 37067
Legislate with patience
Expulsion is being used as a political weapon, not as a means to maintain the decorum of the legislature.
The voters elected these representatives. To remove them only tells us that the party in control intends to stay in control, and intends to silence any other opinion than their own.
The representatives are all grownups. They should act like we’d want grownups to act —actually behave as statesmen (either gender) should act.
They should legislate with patience, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. They should be willing to tackle hard topics, like gun control, to work toward reasonable actions to make the state a better place to be. Not just to make the news and get the emotional response and campaign money they crave.
Lisa C. Cothron, Lafayette 37083
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Costly way to get rid of dissent
Expulsion of the three lawmakers is not remotely appropriate for their actions.
Amazing the GOP super majority feels threatened by three unknown Democratic lawmakers who pose no threat to them.
If all three were expelled, they would be likely to be returned by voters. These special elections would cost $210,000.
Victor Ashe, former mayor of Knoxville
The circus is in town
What a circus is going on in our statehouse today. These clowns need to act like adults and try getting along in order to serve the people that elected them.
The world is watching. The President of the United States and The Wall Street Journal have commented on the foolishness going on in our State House. It is an underhanded grab for power--just get rid of those who don't agree with us.
Jane Kersten, Goodlettsville 37072
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True colors showing
I am embarrassed to say my alumnus Vanderbilt is in Tennessee.
Rapid fire machine guns are for no purpose other than mass killing. Republicans in Tennessee are showing their true Dixiecrat racism.
Tennessee has not changed much since I graduated in 1972. Racism shows by your legislature’s seeking to remove two Black representatives.
I am proud to be a Coloradoan where people of all ethnicities and national origins are accepted.
George Stewart, Denver, Colorado 80224
Stop ‘ignominious tyranny’
I am an 82 year old widow living in the state of Washington, watching the TV coverage of your legislature disgracing itself and our country by expelling elected officials for doing their job.
I am sorry to have lived long enough to see the United States of America circling the drain.
Your paper and your readers must stand against this ignominious tyranny, for your own sake and because if not stopped in its tracks, this diseased behavior will spread.
Marilyn Kelly, Ocean Park, Washington 98640
Extremism threatens U.S.
When Tennessee House GOP members voted to expel duly elected members who engaged in peaceful protest, they imitated actions of those throughout history who despised democracy.
Denying peaceful protest brings shame to Tennessee in the eyes of all who value the protected freedom to debate and disagree peacefully. Those have been core values in the USA for most of our nearly 247 years.
Our nation's democracy is threatened by extremism and I hope that voters in our 16th State will reclaim the right to protest peacefully, as well as reinstall unjustly expelled elected representatives.
Paul Watlington, South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075
Shame on the House
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Tennessee legislature for voting to expel the three representatives.
As a resident of Texas I am grateful that there is now a state legislature that is more brain-dead than ours.
As dumb as most of our reps are, they don't usually make superstars of those in the minority by expelling them for representing those who elected them.
I'm only sorry that Molly Ivins isn't around to write about this though in many ways further commentary would truly be superfluous. People slaughtered and the response is to silence those trying to make children safer. Shame!
Dana Goodrich, San Antonio, Texas 78230
Remember this day
Tennessee Republicans, your message that “Young Lives Don't Matter” isn't a winning message. Those kids outside your chamber, and the many more at home, are going to be voting soon, and voting longer than you'll be alive. And they will remember what you did and didn't do today.
Jay Margolis, Delray Beach, Florida 33446
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What readers say about Tennessee lawmakers seeking to expel colleagues
