friend,
For my entire career I've fought for stricter gun laws, universal background checks, and banning the weapons of war that are being used in mass shootings. After every shooting, Republicans respond with thoughts and prayers, and then make it easier to buy guns. But now they've found a new response: expelling elected officials who stand up for gun control.
Taking a stand for stricter gun laws is every elected officials' duty when innocent children are murdered in schools. But in the eyes of Tennessee’s Republican-controlled House, it's cause for expulsion. Their answer wasn't centered on a single thing that would make school shootings less likely. Instead they expelled duly-elected Black Democratic lawmakers Justin Jones and Justin Pearson from the Tennessee House of Representatives when they were doing their duty as public servants to protect citizens by pushing for stronger gun laws!
Republicans do NOT have answers aside from treating their black colleagues like children and expelling these two men who led peaceful demonstrations calling for new gun control laws. Tens of thousands of people in Nashville and Memphis are no longer represented in the legislature, and the Republicans are even threatening retribution if the city reappoints them. This kind of blatant racism cannot stand in a democracy. These men were democratically elected, were well within their rights to serve their constituents by peacefully answering the call to correct issues, and that's why I need your help getting them reappointed, immediately!
Join me and so many progressive leaders like former President Barack Obama, to show our support for reappointing these two men back to their rightful seats! I’m asking you to add your name now:
It's extremely important that we continue standing up for the people in Tennessee and beyond who deserve to see new gun safety laws, and to have representatives fighting for them in every statehouse across this nation!
Let's do the Right Thing,
Congressman Gerry Connolly
Virginia's 11th District
