TN Rep. Justin J. Pearson talks gun violence at Democratic National Convention

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tennessee House State Representative Justin J. Pearson delivered remarks at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, highlighting his stance on gun violence not only in West Tennessee but nationally.

As a Democratic Representative of Memphis and District 86, and a Tennessee delegate representing Shelby County, Pearson spoke on gun violence affecting the community, and the state of Tennessee as a whole.

Pearson noted the 2023 mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville that killed six people and prompted more than 7,000 adults and children to march at the Tennessee state capitol.

“Gun violence is something that is real for District 86 and our community,” said Pearson. “We have a lot to do to end this epidemic because no one should live in fear of being killed. We don’t have to live this way.”

Rep. Pearson also showed his strong support for Vice President Kamala Harris, who is expected to accept the party’s nomination for president.

“She really cares about dealing with issues that we know are plaguing our community. And the energy we are getting from millennials and Gen Z, it’s not going away. It’s not dissipating because we understand that we can have a leader who really addresses and listens to the problems that we have, and who is really interested in showing up on our behalf,” he said.

Pearson has been fighting for change locally with talk regarding a ban on assault weapons and a need for national extreme risk protection orders. He stated that too many states are refusing to pass red flag laws, which would allow law enforcement officers to take weapons away from someone if they are a danger to themselves or others.

In the interview, Pearson also noted his thoughts on universal background checks when purchasing a firearm.

“So that anybody who is purchasing a firearm has to go through an FBI database and a local database before they are ever able to purchase or access a weapon of war or a firearm in general,” he said.

In a poll conducted by the AP-NORC in August 2023, six in 10 independent voters said they support stricter gun laws. One-third of Republicans wanted more gun regulation, and around nine in 10 Democrats were in support of stricter laws.

In May of this year, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump spoke at the annual National Rifle Association meeting , where he pledged to continue defending the Second Amendment, which he says is “under siege.”

The former president does not mention in his 16-page 2024 GOP Platform how he plans to curb gun violence if reelected.

But, in a section titled “Rebuild Our Cities and Restore Law and Order,” he claims that “Republicans will restore safety in our neighborhoods by replenishing Police Departments, restoring Common Sense Policing, and protecting Officers from frivolous lawsuits. We will stand up to Marxist Prosecutors, vigorously defend the Right of every American to live in peace, and we will compassionately address homelessness to restore order to our streets.”

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