Tennessee lawmakers vote on whether to expel three Democrats over gun control protest

Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson face expulsion vote by Republican-controlled state house

The Republican-dominated Tennessee state house was preparing to vote on Thursday on whether to expel three Democrats for their demonstration calling for gun control following the Nashville school shooting, an extraordinary move the chamber has used only a handful of times since the civil war.

Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson are the subjects of the vote. Last week, they approached the front of the chamber floor and chanted back and forth with gun control supporters who packed the gallery days after six people, including three children, were fatally shot at the Covenant school.