The Tennessee state House has approved a bill on Tuesday that permits teachers who are authorized to carry firearms to possess handguns in classrooms, despite facing strong opposition from parents, educators, and Democrats.
The bill received approval in a vote of 68-28, with opposition from four GOP House members and all Democrats, according to The Associated Press.
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The state Senate has already approved the bill, and it is now awaiting the signature of Republican Gov. Bill Lee. Gov. Lee has the option to either veto the bill, sign it into law, or wait for 10 days for it to automatically become law.
The proposed legislation aims to grant permission to certain qualified teachers and school personnel to discreetly possess firearms in their classrooms, without parental knowledge. To proceed, the teacher must obtain consent from their school principal, the local law enforcement agency’s head, and the directors of the designated school district.
To be authorized to carry handguns, individuals would be required to undergo mental health and criminal background examinations. Furthermore, teachers would need to receive training in school policing in order to maintain their authorization.
Democrats in the state chambers have strongly criticized the legislation, asserting that it would not effectively deter school shooters. They also argue that it could potentially lead to increased collateral damage and higher insurance costs for school districts if educators were allowed to carry weapons. House Democrats made numerous attempts to amend the legislation, but were unsuccessful in their efforts.
In April, the state Senate passed the bill with a party-line vote of 26-5.
State House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) took action on Tuesday by ordering the chamber to be cleared amidst the echoing chants of “Blood on your hands,” as reported by FOX 17 News. The passage of the legislation was met with a resounding chorus of “Not one more,” as captured in a video shared by the outlet.
According to FOX 17 News, Republican state Rep. Ryan Williams, one of the bill’s sponsors, stated that the legislation aims to serve as a “deterrent.” However, he emphasized the importance of setting “very high” standards in order to permit teachers to carry guns in Tennessee’s schools.
State Representative Justin Pearson (D) expressed his deep concern, stating that it was a truly devastating day for both the state and the local community.
The bill’s approval arrives amidst increased demands from Republicans in the state for looser gun regulations, particularly following the tragic Covenant School shooting in March last year, which claimed the lives of three adults and three students.
