Tennessee Democrats face GOP-led expulsion after using bullhorn for gun control rant on House floor

Tennessee House Democrats are facing possible expulsion from their elected posts after using a bullhorn on the chamber floor to lead calls for more gun control.

Their calls follow the shooting last week at the Nashville-area Covenant School in which three children and three adult staff members were killed.

The three lawmakers last Thursday came to the podium on the House floor between bills without being recognized to speak, a violation of chamber rules, and led protesters in the gallery in chants calling for gun control until they obliged fellow members' request to stop.

"There is a proper way to handle that and a proper way not to," said GOP House Speaker Cameron Sexton, whose conference is leading the effort to ousts the lawmakers.

"What was demonstrated on this House floor was not the way to do that. Almost unanimously, I think everyone in this body would agree that was not acceptable behavior, that is not how members of the General Assembly should act."

The three members facing expulsion are state Reps. Gloria Johnson, of Knoxville; Justin Jones, of Nashville; and Justin Pearson of Memphis.

GOP lawmakers earlier this week filed three resolutions to remove them from their committee assignments. The could be voted on as early as Thursday.