Gun Control Activist Could Be Barred From Tennessee Capitol Over Lawmaker Fracas

The near brawl that erupted during a meeting of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee this week may lead to Democrat Rep. Justin Pearson facing sanctions from his colleagues, but a gun control activist who inserted herself into the fracas could also face consequences for her own actions. 

The outburst began when the Democrat, who was previously expelled from the legislature for leading a gun control protest on the House floor but was re-elected by his Memphis constituents, tried to physically attack Republican Rep. Andrew Farmer during discussion about Pearson’s bill to repeal permitless carry. 

Reporters in attendance say Pearson made a comment about how real work was not being done to end the gun violence epidemic. 

“We have the power to do something about the gun violence epidemic and we don’t just have to offer some empty thoughts and prayers,” said Pearson.

Rep. Farmer then said that they had been working during this session and mentioned that Pearson had been absent.

“I know every member in this committee has been here this year working during committee, during session, voting on bills. And I know you may have some things going on, but you have not. So, I don’t think it’s fair for you to come in front of this committee and lecture us on hard work and convictions, and hard work for our committee,” said Rep. Farmer. 

Pearson has been absent from the statehouse for much of this session after the death of his brother, who took his own life with a firearm earlier this year. It sounds to me like Farmer was trying to be as polite as possible about the reason for Pearson’s absence, but the Democrat went ballistic on Farmer in response… or at least tried to. 

A WKRN reporter says Pearson was seen yelling and telling Farmer to “learn when to shut up.” He then physically charged at Farmer and had to be restrained.

Pearson left the meeting after the altercation.

“I can disagree and we can disagree on any policy or legislation, but you do not attack people’s family,” said Pearson in an interview with WREG.

“I wouldn’t have treated him that way,  this wasn’t about policy, this was about humanity and dignity and how you treat people. He was disrespectful and he was rude and he was mean and he was evil,” said Pearson.

With all due respect to Pearson, nothing Farmer said justified a physical assault, and it certainly wasn’t evil. I’m sure that Pearson is still grieving the loss of his brother, and I empathize with him. But as someone who’s going through something similar, I know that my emotions can get the best of me, and innocent comments from friends, family, or colleagues can cut deeply, even if they had no ill intent at all. At best, I think Pearson let his grief get in the way of rationality, and I’d like to think that was the case rather than Pearson exploiting his brother’s death to grandstand for political purposes. 

Gun control advocate Sarah Shoop Neumann was among those trying to stop Pearson from physically assaulting Farmer, and while that might not have been inappropriate if the confrontation took place in a capitol hallway, Republicans say she was out of line by inserting herself in the fray in the committee hearing room. 

Neumann is the parent of a child enrolled at the Covenant School. Even though her child wasn’t present the day of the mass shooting, she has become a vocal proponent for gun control measures at the the Tennessee Capitol.

Members of the public are not allowed back in the committee seating, even if Neumann was just trying to help. “Any member of the public that is coming up on the dais is creating a bigger problem,” said Lamberth on Thursday. 

“Having someone from the public come up, just creates a whole another endeavor, a whole another problem. Whether it’s good or bad intentions,” added Sexton.

Speaker Sexton says he has not made a final decision on the extent of her punishment, but indicated it could be severe. “Um, not allowed to come back,” he said.

Neumann may have been trying to de-escalate the situation, but there were plenty of people on hand (including the sergeant-at-arms) who were capable of keeping Pearson from clocking his colleague. I don’t think a lifetime ban from the capitol would be appropriate, but barring her from the statehouse for the rest of the session wouldn’t be out of line as far as I’m concerned. 

As for any possible punishment for Pearson, I hope that Republican leadership does hold him accountable for his actions. Grief is not an excuse for the abhorrent behavior he displayed on Wednesday, and his aggression should come with consequences far beyond the defeat of his bill to repeal permitless carry, especially since he’s still portraying Farmer as the one who did something wrong. And while House Speaker Cameron Sexton decides what to do with Pearson, I’d encourage the Memphis Democrat to spend some time with a grief counselor to help him process his emotions in a healthy way before someone really gets hurt.