On Tuesday, April 23rd, the Tennessee Legislature passed a controversial bill that permits teachers and other school staff to carry concealed firearms on school property, a move that has sparked intense debate across the state and the nation. The bill, which passed the Tennessee House with a vote of 68-28, is now headed to Governor Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.
This legislative action comes over a year after a tragic shooting at a Nashville school resulted in the deaths of three children and three adults, escalating the ongoing national conversation about school safety and gun control. The bill stipulates that any school employee who wishes to carry a firearm on school grounds must have a handgun carry permit, obtain written authorization from the school’s principal and local law enforcement, and complete 40 hours of handgun training.
Critics of the bill, including Democratic state Representative Justin Jones, have vocally opposed the legislation, arguing that it places an undue burden on teachers and could potentially make schools less safe. “My Republican colleagues continue to hold our state hostage, hold our state at gunpoint to appeal to their donors in the gun industry,” Jones stated. In response to his criticisms, which included recording proceedings on his phone, Jones was barred from speaking on the floor through the following Wednesday.
Supporters of the bill, however, argue that arming teachers will act as a deterrent against potential shooters and enhance the security of schools. “What you’re doing is you’re creating a deterrent,” stated Republican State Representative Ryan Williams, the bill’s sponsor. Amidst the debate, protesters chanted “Blood on your hands” at Tennessee House Republicans, highlighting the deep divisions the issue has caused.
The legislation also contains provisions that prevent the disclosure of which school employees are carrying firearms to anyone outside of school administrators and local law enforcement, including students’ parents and other teachers. This aspect of the bill has raised concerns about transparency and accountability.
If signed into law by Governor Lee, Tennessee will join approximately half of the U.S. states that allow teachers or other school employees to carry guns on school property, according to the Giffords Law Center, a gun control advocacy group. This decision marks a significant development in the state’s approach to handling gun laws and school safety measures.
