Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a new legislation allowing teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns on public school grounds. The bill, which became effective immediately, requires those wanting to carry a handgun on school grounds to have a handgun carry permit and undergo 40 hours of handgun training. School principals, districts, and law enforcement would all have to agree to allow staff to carry guns, and parents and other teachers would be barred from knowing who is armed at their schools.
While the bill was met with support from some lawmakers, it was also met with opposition from gun control advocates and families. During the final vote, protesters chanted “Blood on your hands” and many members of the public opposed to the bill confronted Republican lawmakers. The legislation marks the biggest expansion of gun access in the state since a deadly shooting at a private elementary school in Nashville last year, where three children and three adults were killed by a shooter before being killed by police.
Governor Lee initially proposed keeping guns away from individuals deemed dangerous in response to the shooting in Nashville, but the Republican supermajority ignored this request. Concerned families from Covenant met with Lee and lawmakers in an attempt to persuade them to drop the idea of arming teachers. They collected nearly 4,300 signatures from Tennesseans against arming public school staff members. Despite disagreements on the way forward, Lee emphasized the importance of keeping children safe in schools.
The new law stipulates that those authorized to carry guns on school grounds cannot bring them to school events held at stadiums, gymnasiums, or auditoriums. It remains unclear if any school districts will take advantage of this new legislation. For example, Metro Nashville Public Schools spokesperson Sean Braisted stated that the district believes it is safest for only approved active-duty law enforcement to carry weapons on campus. The law requires a principal, school district, and law enforcement agreement to allow staff to carry guns on school grounds.
The bill signing comes after Governor Lee announced his support for the proposal, emphasizing the importance of giving districts tools and options for keeping children safe. Opponents of the legislation, including gun control advocates and families, have expressed concerns about the potential risks of arming teachers. However, the bill has garnered support from Republican leaders in the General Assembly who helped shepherd it through to become law. The move represents a significant shift in gun access in Tennessee and raises questions about how it will be implemented in various school districts.
