In a 68-28 vote, Tennessee House Republicans approved a bill that would permit certain teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns on public school premises. The bill also includes provisions to keep the identities of armed personnel confidential from parents and other teachers. The legislation now awaits consideration by Republican Gov. Bill Lee.
If signed into law, this measure would mark the most significant expansion of gun access in the state since a tragic shooting incident at a private elementary school in Nashville last year.
Opponents of the bill expressed their disapproval by chanting 'Blood on your hands' at House Republicans following the vote. The public outcry led House Speaker Cameron Sexton to clear the galleries.
The proposal, which had previously passed in the state Senate, received opposition from four House Republicans and all Democrats. It mandates that only school administrators and law enforcement be informed of which employees are carrying firearms. Permission from a principal, school district, and law enforcement agency would be required for staff to carry guns.
The bill's sponsor, a Republican state representative, argued that allowing staff to carry guns would serve as a deterrent against potential threats, citing past challenges related to shootings across the state.
Despite attempts by Democrats to introduce amendments such as parental consent requirements and notification protocols for armed individuals, these proposals were rejected by the Republican majority.
If the bill becomes law, school districts would have the option to authorize armed staff members. However, some districts, like Metro Nashville Public Schools, maintain that only active-duty law enforcement should carry weapons on campus for safety reasons.
Tennessee has a history of loosening gun laws, with previous legislation allowing armed school workers in select counties. The state also passed a permit-less carry law for handguns in 2021.
Following a tragic shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville last year, which claimed the lives of six individuals, efforts to implement significant gun control measures have faced resistance from lawmakers. The bill passed on Tuesday outlines stringent requirements for school employees seeking to carry handguns on school grounds, including background checks and 40 hours of handgun training.
While the bill awaits the governor's signature, it remains to be seen how school districts will respond to the potential implementation of this controversial legislation.
