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School Teachers Allowed To Carry Concealed Handguns
Tennessee lawmakers pass bill allowing school teacher to carry handguns
Sam Jordan
May 02, 2024
Tennessee lawmakers pass bill allowing school teachers to carry concealed handguns
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation last Friday allowing teachers and school staff in the state to be armed in school buildings and campuses (68-28). Protestors were chanting “Bloody on your hands” as the bill passed despite the wide margin.
How has mainstream media been covering this story?
What is the left saying?Many on the left oppose this bill, arguing that it does not enhance school safety: Professional Educators of Tennessee, an association of educators in the state, criticized the bill for its lack of sufficient protocols. The association’s Executive Director, J.C. Bowman warned about the additional risks the bill could create for schools and their staff. “Teachers are not equipped to handle live fire… it just is going to be unsafe.” Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner stated he is strictly against the bill and what it means for teachers. He argued that teachers are not supposed to be carrying guns in schools. “You go into the teaching profession to teach. You don’t go into the teaching profession to be teacher/police officer/security officer and so on and so forth.” The Democrats proposed a series of amendments to the bill to impose greater gun control, but the majority of Republicans rejected them. The Republicans have also rejected their own Governor’s demand for special safety measures in the wake of the Nashville school shooting. The left views the Tennessee legislation as a contradiction to the Democratic-led states such as Colorado, Maine, and Vermont that have taken steps toward greater restrictions on guns. | What is the right saying?The right generally supports this bill, viewing it as essential for ensuring safety in schools: The GOP state Sen. Paul Bailey, who sponsored the bill, argued the bill’s importance for rural areas with limited resources and law enforcement. "Not all schools and school systems could afford a school resource officer. This was just another line of defense that … would be possible for schools to use, especially in the rural areas." Republican Rep. Ryan Williams, an advocate for the bill, stated that Tennessee already has a similar law for schools in distressed counties and hasn't led to any incidents. "This kind of legislation is not new to Tennessee… in 2016, this body gave K-12 schools in distressed counties the ability to carry guns, teachers and faculty to be able to carry concealed weapons in their schools, and have done for the last seven years without any incident.” Republican State Sen. Paul Bailey also spoke out about the misinformation surrounding the bill. there is "a lot of misinformation" about the legislation, which "does not require any teacher in this state to carry a gun while working. This bill is completely permissive. It simply gives a faculty or staff member the option." Several other Republican-led states such as Iowa, Nebraska and Kentucky have also passed similar laws, allowing teachers and staff members to bring guns to schools. |
Let’s Seek Common Ground, What Are The Facts?
The law follows a tragic incident in Tennessee where a shooter killed six people at Nashville's Covenant School in March 2023
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a bill allowing educators in public schools to carry guns in the classroom (68-28)
Teachers must pass a background check, psych evaluation, complete 40hrs of training & receive adequate approval from principals, school directors and local law enforcement
If a staff member misuses the gun or if it gets into the wrong hands, the teacher will be held responsible and not the school
Republicans rejected Democratic amendments including parental consent requirements, notification when someone is armed and more
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