Tennessee’s GOP-dominated House is preparing to vote Thursday on whether to expel three Democratic members for their demonstration calling for gun control following the Nashville school shooting, an extraordinary move that the chamber has used only a handful of times since the Civil War.

Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson are the subjects of the ouster vote.

Last week, just days after six people, including three children, were fatally shot at The Covenant School in Nashville, the trio chanted back and forth from the chamber floor with gun control supporters who packed the gallery.

Their possible expulsion has once again thrust Tennessee into the national spotlight, underscoring not only the ability of the Republican supermajority to silence opponents, but also its increasing willingness to do so.

Before the House proceedings began, thousands flocked to the Capitol, loudly chanting to show their support for the so-called “Tennessee three.”

The three held hands as they walked onto the House floor and Pearson raised his fist to the crowd during the Pledge of Allegiance.

Protesters outside the chamber held up signs that said, “School zones shouldn’t be war zones,” “Muskets didn’t fire 950 rounds per minute” with a photo of George Washington, and “You can silence a gun...but not the voice of the people.“

Expulsions in the Tennessee General Assembly are extremely rare and considered an extraordinary action.

If Johnson, Jones or Pearson are expelled, the county commissions in their districts would get to pick replacements to serve until a special election in several months. The three would remain eligible to run in those.

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