The Tennessee State Senate passed a bill allowing teachers to be armed in the classroom following a chaotic discussion that included state troopers clearing spectators from the gallery above.
Demonstrators in the crowd shouted their opposition to the legislation and one woman could be heard saying, “We’re all Covenant mothers,” referring to last year’s school shooting in Nashville that killed six people.
Tuesday’s 26-5 vote came entirely on party lines, with every Democrat opposing and every Republican supporting it.
Senator Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, sponsored the bill which still needs House approval and Governor Lee’s signature to become law.
Bailey says he worked with the Department of Safety, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association, and the Tennessee Chiefs of Police Association on the legislation. He claims each is neutral on it.
Under the legislation, a teacher must have a background check and be fingerprinted, must pass a psychological evaluation, and must complete a minimum of 40 hours annually of training specific to school policing with the authorizing law enforcement agency. Teachers are not required to carry and all information on who is carrying in the school will be confidential.
Senator Bailey said teachers are up to the responsibility of protecting their classrooms.
“Someone that is seeking this authorization knows that they have a duty, a full responsibility in seeking this authorization and therefore, you wouldn’t just have any individual wanting to be authorized to carry,” said Bailey.
Multiple Senate Democrats expressed vocal opposition to the bill.
Senator Charlene Oliver, D-Nashville, unsuccessfully proposed three amendments, including one that would have required teachers to have 40 hours of de-escalation training to carry a firearm, another that would have allowed only full-time licensed teachers or administrators to carry, and another that would declare the classroom a hazardous work environment, allowing teachers to apply for hazard pay.
Senators voted all three down.
Oliver told the Senate that these amendments came to her from several concerned constituents.
“We have people who have never touched a firearm a day in their life. They don’t want any parts of it. I understand people have a right to their second amendment, but we are bringing these guns into the classroom. And people should not have to be subjected to this type of distress, they should not have to be teaching under this duress,” said Oliver.
Senator London Lamar, D-Memphis, also spoke out, calling the bill irresponsible. She told Senators that the legislation will only put students at more risk by giving an inexperienced teacher access to a gun to resolve conflicts.
“It is really hard, even as a new mom, to stand here and have to be composed on a piece of legislation I know puts my son’s life at risk. And before I get to why this bill is bad, Mr. Speaker, I am also disappointed Mr. Speaker that I saw a lot of my colleagues, not all, but many of them laughing at the mothers being put out like it’s funny. I am very offended by many of my colleagues on the floor,” said Lamar. “We think this piece of legislation is going to keep kids safe, which is probably going to enable the next school shooter and it’s not going to be someone coming in from the outside. It’s unfortunately going to be a teacher with this piece of legislation… Look at that gallery. They’re (mothers) asking you not to do this.”
Democrats also expressed opposition that parents won’t know which teachers are carrying are inside the school.
Multiple Senate Republicans pushed back on the opposition, including Senator Ken Yager, R-Kingston. Yager said that the bill fixes the issue of having so few officers active in smaller counties.
“I’m here, standing in support of this bill. And many of the statements made about this bill are categorically incorrect. And it’s time we look at the facts of the bill, that we are not trying to shoot a student but protect a student from an active shooter, who’s sole purpose is to get into that school and kill people,” said Yager.
The Tennessee House laid the legislation on the desk last year and members would have the option of recalling it for another vote this session.
