From left, Interim Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Marie Feagins and Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner, Jr. voice their opposition to allowing teachers to carry guns in schools in a video last week. (Screenshot by Brandon Paykamian)
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Officials from Memphis-Shelby County Schools and local law enforcement have reaffirmed their stance on maintaining school safety with trained law enforcement, in response to recent legislation permitting teachers to carry guns in schools. ¶
In a joint video message last week, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Marie Feagins, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner, Jr., and Interim Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis emphasized that they believe firearms have no place in schools, following the passage of a new law passed in April that allows faculty and staff members to carry concealed handguns on school grounds with authorization from school principals, superintendents and chiefs of local law enforcement.¶
The MSCS statement comes after officials in Knox County Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Williamson County Schools, Sumner County Schools, Oak Ridge Schools, Anderson County Schools, and Rutherford County Schools also decided not to arm teachers in schools.¶
Feagins said in the video that the district will not allow teachers to carry guns in district schools, with Davis adding that the district and local law enforcement are “united on this issue.” ¶
“Schools are for learning, and emergency situations should be handled by trained officers,” Bonner added in the video. ¶
On April 30, the MSCS School Board passed a resolution prohibiting MSCS employees from carrying firearms on school grounds. The resolution states, “The Board does not believe that arming school staff is the most effective approach for Memphis-Shelby County Schools. That is the expectation of the Board that school staff serve first and foremost as trained, focused, and dedicated educators, not law enforcement and/or security officers.”¶
Feagins, Bonner and Davis reiterated that safety remains a top priority for MSCS and the larger community and highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts with local law enforcement. ¶
“On behalf of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, I want to thank Chief Davis and Sheriff Bonner for their ongoing partnership and support in keeping our students and families safe. Thank you also to the community for your commitment and collaboration in moving Memphis forward together,” Feagins said. ¶
