Tennessee Senate approves measure allowing K-12 teachers to carry concealed guns 

The Tennessee Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would allow K-12 public school teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns on campus.

SB1325 was approved 26-5 by state senators During the noisy floor vote, Associated Press According to reports, demonstrators opposing the bill could be heard shouting, “No more silence, no more gun violence,” and “Kill the bill, not the kids.” The bill now heads to the state House floor for a vote.

The bill was passed by the state Senate about a year after the mass shooting that killed three children and three adult staff members at Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville.

If passed, the bill would prevent teachers from disclosing which employees carried concealed weapons to students’ parents and other teachers. The law allows employees to carry concealed handguns if they have an enhanced carry permit and have permission from the school principal, principal, or local law enforcement chief. This is limited to cases where certain requirements are met, such as:

Employees must also complete background checks and psychiatric evaluations. This requires successful completion of 40 hours of basic school security training and 40 hours of Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission-approved training specific to school security.

The legislation faced immediate pushback from advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers. The Tennessee chapters of Mothers Demand Action and Students Demand Action both condemned the bill in statements.

“We must listen to Tennessee law enforcement, teachers, superintendents and others who oppose arming teachers,” said Linda McFad, volunteer with the Tennessee branch of Moms Demand Action. Din-Ketchum says. In a statement. “And most importantly, we must listen to the voices of Tennesseans who are worried about their children not coming home from school every day.”

Democratic state Sen. London Lamar said his children are “at risk” under the bill, according to the Associated Press.

“This bill is dangerous and teachers don’t want it. Nobody wants it,” she said.

Supporters of the bill said it would benefit rural areas where law enforcement is limited, according to the Associated Press.

“It’s time to look at the facts of this bill,” Republican state Sen. Ken said. “We’re not trying to shoot students to death, we’re trying to get them from an active shooter whose sole purpose is to enter a school and kill someone. We’re protecting our students.” Yeager said.

The Associated Press contributed.