Tennessee legislators pass bill to arm teachers in school

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A year after six people were killed at Nashville’s Covenant School, Tennessee appears to be ground zero for the debate over gun policy.

State lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday to allow armed teachers in schools in a 68-to-28 vote.

Some Mid-South educators are opposed to the bill but one lawmaker says it will make classrooms safer.

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“Yesterday was an incredible difficult day to be an educator. I sat alone in my classroom and watched in horror a live feed of the legislative session as our representatives voted to give teachers guns,” said Kathryn Vaughn, an Elementary art teacher and Tipton County Education Association president. “More guns in schools just mean more dead children and gun deaths are already the leading cause of death for children in our state. It’s incredibly dangerous to have children in more proximity to weapons.”

Republicans have often pushed for teachers to be armed in response to the numerous school shootings.

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“I do believe that this bill will save lives and also prevent threats of mass violence or any kind of active situation in our schools,” said Republican Representative Ryan Williams, Cookeville, Bill Sponsor.

The bill would allow one school employee per every 75 students to carry a gun at the school. A principal, school district, and law enforcement agency would have to agree to let staff carry guns.

They would then have to go through 40 hours of school security training and a mental evaluation.

Rev. Althea Greene, Memphis Shelby County School Board Chairwoman, says she opposes the bill.

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“I can’t imagine as an educator if a child attacked me if I had on a weapon what would be my first reaction to defend myself? I worry that when situations happen people won’t have time to deescalate to think about the best thing to do in conflict resolution,” Rev. Greene said. “We ask educators in Memphis Shelby County Schools to do so much and I believe the best use of their time would be focusing on those topics that they are licensed to teach.”

Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner also stated in an interview with WREG that he does not support the bill. He says he worries that the bill falls too far outside of the job description.

“For me, the Sheriff of Shelby County, no. I am not for teachers carrying guns in school,” he said. “You go into the teaching profession to teach. You don’t go into the teaching profession to be teacher/police officer/security officer and so on and so forth.”

WREG reached out to newly appointed MSCS superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins about the arming teachers’ bill.

In an email, Dr. Feagins said, “Since arriving in Memphis, I have met with hundreds of educators who have asked for more books, improved technology, and better pay. No one has asked to bring a weapon to improve the learning environment. Safety for us is a comprehensive approach that includes collaborative partnerships, heightened security measures, and addressing the significant facility needs that impact the psychological and physical well-being of our youngest leaders and the adults who serve them. I own the urgency and commit to the work that must be done.”

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