The Tennessee state Capitol saw excitement after lawmakers appeared to engage in a short physical dispute as the special session on public safety closed on Tuesday without passing significant gun control reforms Democrats have pushed for.
Gun control advocate and Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson and Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton appeared to have had a brief physical interaction. Pearson, who was carrying a pink sign advocating gun safety, approached Sexton, who walked past him, and surrounding people blocked out Pearson, pushing him away, footage captured by reporters showed.
Protesters in the gallery were chanting, “Vote them out,” as the interaction occurred.