Tennessee House votes to arm teachers despite opposition
Apr 23, 2024 | 5:07 pm ET
Description
Parents of school children and other protesters of a bill passed by the Tennessee House of Representatives to arm teachers hold signs during Tuesday's vote. (Photo: John Partipilo)
Balcony crowds chanted, “Blood on your hands” and “Vote them out,” after the House voted Tuesday to allow teachers to carry concealed weapons on school campuses.
House Republicans passed the legislation 68-28 enabling school districts and local law enforcement to opt in on the law and let teachers who go through 40 hours of training bring weapons to school to ward off attackers. The Senate measure moves next to the governor’s office for his signature.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton ordered troopers to clear the galleries on both sides of the House chamber to shut down the ruckus raised by the bill’s opponents. The House also found Rep. Justin Jones in violation of the chamber’s rules twice for recording video, disqualifying him from speaking for the rest of the day’s session. Jones later showed the press corps video of House Majority Leader William Lamberth recording audio on his phone. No action was taken against Lamberth.
The Republican-controlled chamber also refused to find Republican Rep. Chris Todd of Madison County in violation of rules for allegedly making physical contact with Jones, who later claimed that Todd tried to “bump” him. Republicans also declined to sanction Republican Rep. Jerome Moon for videotaping with a cell phone.
The crowd continued to protest in the hall outside the House chamber as it plowed forward with a host of bills as lawmakers shoot for a Thursday adjournment sine die.
Leading up to the chaotic moments Tuesday afternoon, supermajority Republicans rejected a host of amendments from Democrats who tried to water down the bill by removing counties such as Shelby and Davidson and holding schools liable for gun-related injuries.
Republican Rep. Ryan Williams of Cookeville defended his bill, saying it is permissive and requires an agreement between school districts and local law enforcement agencies, in addition to training, fingerprinting, a psychiatric evaluation and background check on teachers who want to carry a gun to school.
“All they have to do is say no, and they can be removed,” Williams said. “Then this deterrent I hope to achieve is removed.”
Democrats lambasted the bill, pointing out students and parents begged them to take action to restrict weapons in the wake of the March 2023 mass shooting at The Covenant School in Green Hills where six people, including three 9-year-old children were killed.
Chaotic moments: Democratic Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville was barred from participating in debate after House members found him in violation of rules prohibiting recording on the House floor; action was not taken against Republican leader William Lamberth for audio recording on his phone.
“Students stood out here and begged us to take care of them,” said Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville. “This is more dangerous than doing nothing.”
Opponents of the bill argued mainly that teachers could shoot a student accidentally or leave a weapon unlocked in a school restroom, incidents they documented.
In questioning Williams, Democratic Rep. Harold Love of Nashville pointed out that teachers wouldn’t be allowed to carry concealed weapons to pep rallies.
Instead, they would be required to remain in their classroom where their gun was stored, making them unable to protect students if a mass shooter attacked during the pep rally.
“The bill is moot at that point,” Love said.
Four Republicans voted against the bill: Reps. Charlie Baum of Murfreesboro, John Gillespie of Memphis, Kevin Raper of Cleveland, and Sam Whitson of Franklin.
Nashville, TN
