The Tennessee House is set to vote on a contentious bill that would allow some teachers to carry guns in classrooms without informing parents. The bill, HB 1202/SB 1321, has sparked heated protests and debates, with opponents arguing that introducing more firearms into schools could lead to potentially deadly accidents and increase the risk of violence. Despite vocal opposition from Democrats, teachers, and gun-reform advocates, the bill is likely to pass through the House.
The legislation has raised concerns from parents of school shooting survivors, students, and gun-reform advocates. They have lobbied against the bill, with one Covenant School mom delivering a letter with over 5,300 signatures urging lawmakers to reject the measure. The bill’s privacy safeguards, which would keep parents unaware of armed teachers in classrooms, have been criticized for lack of transparency.
Republicans argue that properly trained teachers and staff can enhance school security in the event of a security threat, especially in rural areas with limited law enforcement. However, opponents question the training requirements and mental preparedness of teachers to use firearms in a crisis situation.
The bill, which has faced protests and backlash, would allow armed teachers to carry handguns in classrooms without informing parents. School administrators would be the only ones allowed to know of armed staff members, with approval from the school district’s director of schools, the school principal, and the chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency. Despite the controversy and opposition, the bill is likely to pass as the session nears its end in the Tennessee General Assembly.
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