WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — President Joe Biden welcomed the Tennessee Three to the White House on Monday afternoon, noting they stood up in the face of opposition for what was right to stop gun violence.
"You're standing for kids, you're standing up for our communities, safe communities, and democratic values. And that's what it's all about," Biden said as Democratic state Reps. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis sat smiling on couches.
Vice President Kamala Harris sat at Biden's right.
"All three of you speak so well about why you're doing what you did, and why you continue to do it," Biden said.
He added: "What the (Tennessee) Republican Legislature did was shocking, and it was undemocratic and it was without any precedent. But you turned it around very quickly."
Republican House leadership expelled Jones and Pearson last month and tried and failed to expel Johnson after they staged a brief demonstration last month about the need for tougher gun legislation on the House floor.
The leadership argued what the three did was extreme and deserved extreme punishment. Democratic counterparts said it was a gross over-reaction.
A shooting last month that killed six people, including three 9-year-olds, at a private Nashville school has inspired Johnson, Jones and Pearson to seek tougher gun control measures.
County commissions in their respective states rapidly sent Jones and Pearson back to their seats. Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton stripped Johnson of her committee assignments, but soon gave them back to her.
The House Republicans' actions, including Knox County Republicans, sparked an uproar across the state and the United States. Harris made a point of meeting with the three in Nashville within days of their punishment.
The Tennessee Three sat for a few minutes Monday with Biden and Harris as various members of the media huddled in the Oval Office.
Biden said it was an "honor" to speak with them. He commended them for taking a stand amid a surge in mass shootings.
"But on so many issues you've been out front, and you understand exactly what it's like. It is tragic to see what's happening in your state, in particular, and your city but also across the country," Biden said. "And, you know, nothing's guaranteed in democracy. Every generation has to fight for it, and you all are doing just that."
The president told them he supports federal legislation to ban assault weapons, just like was passed during the Clinton administration in the 1990s but has since expired.
Biden, elected to his first term in 2020, is widely expected to announce Tuesday that he's running for a second term.
As he wrapped up his public remarks with the Tennessee Three, Biden was asked amid shouts and calls from reporters why he wanted to serve four more years.
Smiling broadly, he replied: "So I get to answer your questions. Stay tuned!"
The three state lawmakers said later they privately discussed with Biden and Harris further gun control measures that could be enacted including an assault weapons ban, universal background checks and "red flag" legislation that aims to keep firearms from people who are a threat to themselves or others.
Tennessee could one day be "a model for the nation," Jones said.
Gov. Bill Lee announced Friday he planned to call for a special session at which lawmakers could pass legislation that would allow authorities to step in such critical moments.