Topline
The Tennessee state legislature passed a bill Tuesday that, if it becomes law, would allow teachers or school staff to have concealed handguns in schools—a move that came a little more than one year after six were killed in a school shooting in Nashville.
Key Facts
The bill—which passed the Tennessee House 68-28 on Tuesday—allows teachers, principals or school personnel to carry a concealed handgun on school property if they obtain an enhanced handgun carry permit and complete an annual training.
The bill, which was largely supported by Republicans and opposed by Democrats, was not passed without pushback: protesters chanting “blood on your hands” led the speaker to clear the gallery, The Tennessean reported.
The bill says faculty or staff who opt to carry a concealed handgun will remain confidential except to an administrative officer at the school district responsible for safety, meaning parents would not be informed if their child’s teacher is carrying a gun.
Some Republicans felt the bill would increase school security in areas of the state it’s harder for law enforcement to get to, and GOP Rep. Ryan Williams, who supported the bill, said it aims to protect students and deter potential threats to school security, adding he thinks this is a way to make the schools safer across the state, according to The Tennessean.
Schools are able to opt out of allowing their staff to carry guns, the bill’s sponsor, GOP Sen. Paul Bailey, told USA Today, though that is not outlined in the text of the bill.
Big Number
32. That’s at least how many states have some kind of law allowing teachers to carry guns in K-12 schools, according to the Giffords Law Center. The circumstances around what is required of teachers to get approval to carry guns differ state to state, and in some states they differ between private and public schools.
Chief Critic
Tennessee Democrats were staunchly against the bill in both the House and Senate. After the bill passed the House on Tuesday, the Tennessee Senate Democrats criticized Republicans, posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the GOP had a “shameful and shameless response to gun violence in schools: more guns.” Tennessee Democratic Sen. London Lamar said it was “disgusting” the bill passed the House and called it “one of the most dangerous bills to come out this session,” adding: “more kids are at risk of getting shot.. this isn’t pro-life.”
What To Watch For
Whether Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, R, signs the bill into law. It can become law without his signature, per Tennessee law, and Lee has never vetoed a bill.
Key Background
In March 2023, a shooter entered The Covenant School in Nashville and opened fire, killing three students and three teachers before being killed by police. The shooter—who police said was a 28-year-old Nashville resident named Audrey Hale they believed to be a former student of the school—entered the school with two assault-type rifles and a handgun. Officials said after the shooting they believed Hale was transgender and had left behind a manifesto. The shooting was one of more than 650 mass shootings last year, which was the second-worst year for mass shootings since the Gun Violence Archive began tracking. The shooting led to a special session for the legislature in which lawmakers discussed proposals on mental health and resources the state, which has relaxed gun laws, could provide schools. But little real change came out of the session, Chalkbeat Tennessee reported, which left parents, students and gun violence advocates frustrated.
