Nashville, Tennessee – Lawmakers in Tennessee have recently approved a bill that would permit school staff to carry concealed firearms on school premises. This decision comes in the wake of a tragic school shooting in Nashville last year, where a shooter claimed the lives of six individuals.
The bill successfully passed in the Tennessee House with a 68-28 vote, with bipartisan opposition. The state Senate, also under Republican control, had previously passed the measure earlier in the month. Republican state Rep. Ryan Williams emphasized that the bill’s intention is to enhance school safety by acting as a deterrent.
Under the legislation, school faculty and staff interested in carrying concealed handguns on school grounds would be required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of specialized training related to school policing annually. Despite the bill’s approval, protesters voiced their disapproval during the floor proceedings, chanting “Blood on your hands” in response.
Democratic state Rep. Bo Mitchell expressed concerns about the bill, citing the previous tragedy at Covenant School in Nashville, where multiple lives were lost. Mitchell raised questions about the effectiveness of responding to such incidents with an increase in firearms. State Senator Paul Bailey, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, did not provide immediate comments on the matter.
The bill now awaits approval from Republican Governor Bill Lee. If signed, Tennessee would join a growing number of states with laws allowing teachers and school personnel to carry firearms on school premises. According to the Giffords Law Center, at least 26 states have similar laws in place, with variations and exceptions depending on the state.