Tennessee lawmakers have approved legislation allowing school teachers and personnel to carry concealed pistols on the premises of schools.
The law has been handed to the governor for final approval, exactly one year after a terrible shooting in Nashville killed six people.
The Tennessee House approved the legislation (68–28).
Notably, four Republicans joined forces with Democrats to oppose the proposal.
Earlier this month, the Republican-controlled state Senate approved the bill.
Teachers who seek to carry guns in school must complete at least 40 hours of approved school policing training each year
Republican state Representative Ryan Williams supported the bill, saying, “I believe that this is a method by which we can do that because what you’re doing is you’re creating a deterrent,” during the House floor debate.
Under the proposed legislation, faculty and staff members who seek to carry concealed pistols on school grounds must complete at least 40 hours of approved school policing training each year.
Throughout the proceedings, demonstrators in the gallery could be heard yelling, “Blood on your hands.”
Democratic state Representative Bo Mitchell recalled last year’s Covenant School shooting in Nashville, which killed three children and three adults.
“This is what we’re going to do. This is our reaction to teachers and children being murdered in a school—our reaction is to throw more guns at it. What’s wrong with us?” Mitchell passionately argued on the House floor.
Republican Governor Bill Lee’s position remains uncertain. It’s unclear whether he intends to sign the proposal. Governor Lee has not used his veto power during his tenure.
Tennessee is not alone in passing such legislation. According to the Giffords Law Center, a gun violence prevention organization, at least 26 states have legislation that allows teachers or other school workers to carry guns on school grounds, with some exceptions.