Tennessee State House Reps Justin Pearson (D – Memphis) and Andrew Farmer (R – Sevierville) got into a heated confrontation over gun control. Pearson is against the new law in Tennessee that allows for permitless carry. He says that not requiring people to get permits to carry their weapons increases the likelihood of gun violence. The Democrat House Rep lost his brother in December 2024 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Farmer says he understands what grief Pearson is going through, but in the meantime everyone else has been in the State House working while he has been absent.
Andrew Farmer’s statements sent Pearson into sort of a rage. He first gave a speech about everything that he has been doing for the past few months. After a while of Pearson raising his voice to express his grievances, his microphone was cut off. After this, Pearson approached Farmer in an aggressive fashion as Farmer sat at the long table in the State House room they were speaking in. Farmer didn’t react much as Pearson was physically restrained by other House Reps.
SOURCES:
The 2 expelled members of the ‘Tennessee 3’ win back their state House seats : NPR
Rep. Pearson gets heated during gun control hearing at Capitol
Justin J. Pearson confronts Andrew Farmer at House meeting – Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian
Tenn. State Rep. Justin Pearson’s confrontation with Republican over gun violence gets personal: ‘Learn to shut up!’
Justin J. Pearson confronts fellow Tennessee State Representative in committee meeting | News | fox13memphis.com
Confrontation erupts in Tennessee legislature | wbir.com
