The Tennessee General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a bill Tuesday with Republican support that would allow teachers to carry firearms on school grounds, but the names of the armed teachers were not made public.
Earlier this month, Tennessee Republican lawmakers joined forces to approve Senate Bill 1325 by a vote of 26-5. The bill would allow teachers and school staff who meet certain requirements to own and carry firearms on school grounds.
Before teachers can carry a handgun, they must obtain a handgun permit, obtain written permission from both the school principal and local police, and complete 40 hours of handgun training. Additionally, workers must not be prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or carrying a handgun under Tennessee or federal law, as determined by a background check.
On Tuesday, the state House of Representatives passed a sister bill by a vote of 68-28, moving the bill even closer to becoming law. The bill now heads to Governor Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.
One year after the Nashville shooting, Tennessee lawmakers pass bill allowing teachers to carry guns in schools
Covenant School shooter Audrey Hale walks past the Children’s Ministry desk. (1:57) (Twitter @MNPDNashville)
Last year, a mass shooting at Covenant School, a private Christian elementary school in Nashville, left three children and three adults dead.
The state Senate’s approval of the bill sparked an outcry from teachers, students, Democratic lawmakers and even Covenant School parents.
On Tuesday, protesters shouted, “There’s blood on our hands,” before House Speaker Cameron Sexton called on state troopers to remove them from the balcony, according to FOX 17 in Nashville.
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Tennessee’s bill would allow state school teachers to carry firearms on campus. (St. Petersburg)
Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) called the bill “morally preposterous.”
“Republicans continue to hold our state hostage,” he was quoted as saying. “God have mercy on you for not listening to the pain of mothers who say protect their children, not guns.”
Sen. Paul Bailey, one of the bill’s sponsors, said the bill would allow staff and faculty to carry weapons if they wish, but they would have to have 40 hours of training to carry a gun. , said he must undergo a psychological examination.
Rep. Ryan Williams, another sponsor of the bill, said the standards teachers would have to meet to get into Tennessee schools would be “very high.”
Williams said the law is considered “100% permissive,” and it’s up to school districts to enforce it. Approval is also given to law enforcement and school administrators.
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Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, Tennessee. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Williams also said the bill is intended as a deterrent, adding that the identity of the teacher who carried the gun would not be made public.
Still, Democratic Rep. Jason Powell of Nashville called the law “sick to my stomach,” adding it was dangerous.
“This will have dangerous implications around the world,” Powell was quoted as saying. “Think about law enforcement. It delays the response. It puts law enforcement at risk. How do we know who is the perpetrator and who is the teacher with the gun?”
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Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, is expected to sign a bill that would allow teachers to carry firearms at school. (AP Photo/Ferrand M. Ebenhack)
Lee did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on this story.
Before the bill passed, its proponents argued that teachers and faculty could serve as a more immediate response force to mass shootings. They said it could be especially helpful in rural counties with limited law enforcement resources.
The controversial bill was introduced about a year after the Covenant School shooting last March. The gunman was shot dead by police at the scene, and three children and three adults were killed during the assault.
The bill also comes amid a heavy push from Tennessee Republicans to loosen gun laws in 2021, including allowing the permitless carry of handguns.
The push includes efforts to expand the state’s permitless carry law to include long guns.
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The original law allowed residents over the age of 21 to carry handguns in public without a permit. Two years later, Attorney General Jonathan Scumetti allowed young people between the ages of 18 and 20 to carry handguns in public.
Lawmakers also approved a bill that would allow private schools with preschool classes to have guns on campus. The governor has not yet signed it.
Fox News Digital’s Lawrence Richard and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
