On Thursday, a group of approximately 400 vocal protesters demanding legislators immediately adopt stricter gun laws overran House Chambers in Tennessee’s capitol building in Nashville. The incident comes in the wake of Monday’s mass shooting at the nearby Covenant Christian elementary school, where three students and three staff members died.
By 8 a.m. local time, approximately 500 protesters had gathered in front of the capitol building. Many carried signs referencing Monday’s school shooting and the desire for stricter gun control legislation.
Within the hour, approximately 400 protesters moved into the House Chambers shouting, “No action, no peace!” and “What do we want? Gun control! When do we want it? Now!”
Surveillance video from the capitol shows Tennessee state troopers struggling to hold back a crowd of angry protesters as they approached lawmakers.
NBC’s Kelsey Gibbs witnessed the event and posted: “Emotions outside the House Chambers are still high. Protesters are wanting to talk to lawmakers as they run to [the] bathroom.”
Capitol police escorted legislature members to the safety of nearby restrooms as rowdy protesters shouted and attempted to break through a line of officers.
The crowd, comprised primarily of younger people, dispersed from the building by 1 p.m.
According to the New York Post, a Tennessee-based nonprofit called AWAKE planned the protest. The group reports its charter is to improve conditions for women and children.
AWAKE posted the following notice on social media earlier this week:
“We have collaborated with community organizations and individual citizens to organize a rally at the State Capitol Thursday morning. If you are looking for a way to channel your grief, anger, and confusion into action- please join us.”
Daily Wire writer Zach Jewell noted that today’s events were encouraged by Democrats.
One protester with ties to a teacher at The Covenant School told The Daily Wire that lawmakers would have “blood on their hands” if they don’t implement stricter gun control legislation.
RTM previously reported that new evidence indicates the shooter also intended to attack a mall and possibly two other schools, but decided against it due to the presence of armed security.
Nashville Police Chief John Drake revealed: “There was another location [noted in the shooter’s manifesto], but because of a threat assessment by the suspect of too much security, [the shooter] … decided not to [attack].”
Second Amendment advocates have cited the disclosure to support their view that an armed citizenry deters criminal behavior.
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