A legislative debate about local gun control laws nearly spiraled into violence when a Tennessee Democrat lawmaker came dangerously close to physically attacking a GOP colleague.
On Thursday, Rep. Justin Pearson was arguing in favor of his amendment to end the state’s right to carry law allowing residents to carry firearms without permits, blaming guns for his brother’s recent suicide instead of mental health issues.
When Rep. Andrew Farmer scolded him for his rude behavior, the Democrat crossed the room and charged the Republican.
JUST IN: TN State Rep Justin Pearson, who was previously paraded around by the media in 2023, lunges toward a Republican during a debate on gun control.
Pearson was blaming guns for his brother’s su*cide earlier this month when the incident unfolded.
Republican state Rep.… pic.twitter.com/Tb5wE6x3ku
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 27, 2025
“I appreciate the conversation and discussion because that’s what democracy requires, our participation, our questions, our conversation and our discussion, not just the end of debate because you don’t want to hear something,” Pearson said.
“I know every member in this committee’s been here this year working. 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,” Farmer said, a perfectly reasonable response that only angered the Democrat.
“It is a pathetic excuse for you to not answer the question of why we are doing nothing about the gun violence epidemic, then to personally attack me,” Pearson raged, playing the victim until his microphone was cut off and continuing to holler at Farmer after it was.
Once order had been restored, Republicans then voted to reject his bill. That triggered Pearson who stormed across the room and got right next to Farmer, angrily shaking his finger at him while he was restrained from further escalating.
Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) slammed Pearson’s antics.
“After numerous calls for violence from Democrats across the country like Jasmine Crockett, Justin Pearson is following suit with his extreme leftist comrades,” she wrote in a post to X. “This kind of behavior has no place in our government. He is an embarrassment to the great State of Tennessee!”
After numerous calls for violence from Democrats across the country like Jasmine Crockett, Justin Pearson is following suit with his extreme leftist comrades.
This kind of behavior has no place in our government. He is an embarrassment to the great State of Tennessee! https://t.co/U9Stset74W
— Rep. Diana Harshbarger (@RepHarshbarger) March 26, 2025
The notorious Memphis radical has a history of losing his temper during official proceedings.
WKRN NEWS 2 REPORTS FROM TN Special Session as radical Rep. Justin Pearson tries to physically ambush Speaker Sexton with a sign and is pushed away by security. pic.twitter.com/6I0H3iaoE4
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) August 30, 2023
Tennessee Democrat Rep. Justin J. Pearson faces expulsion for participating in gun control protest at the state Capitol last week.
Today he egged on rabid protesters who are threatening the safety of lawmakers and security pic.twitter.com/2YHXaXnvsJ
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) April 6, 2023
“There is not a single member of our body who doesn’t have tremendous sympathy for Rep. Pearson’s loss. Every one of us has struggled with personal tragedy at some point and we have all offered grace and compassion while he took these last few months off to grieve,” Farmer said in a statement to The Tennessean. “Unfortunately, on his first day back, Rep. Pearson took the first available opportunity to attack and demean his colleagues and then attempted to confront me physically.”
It was a perfect example of how Democrats have now turned to intimidation as a form of politics, and that has sparked violence including the spate of attacks on Tesla vehicles, charging stations and EV owners.
The sad thing is that instead of being censured and condemned by Democrats, Pearson will be celebrated and likely has a future brighter than a burning Tesla in the party of violent left-wing radicalism.
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