Covenant mom’s letter opposing arming teachers garners statewide attention

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Thousands of Tennesseans have signed an open letter to lawmakers opposing a bill that would arm teachers in public schools.

Sarah Shoop Neumann, a parent of a Covenant School shooting survivor, said she knew she had to take action after HB1202 passed the State Senate, according to a media release. She wrote the letter to the Tennessee General Assembly, and it quickly began circulating online, the release says.

“HB1202/SB1325 would permit teachers with direct student responsibility as well as other school personnel to carry firearms on school property and in classrooms, without allowing parents or school staff other than the principal to know who these individuals are. These individuals would be required to complete 40 hours of training,” Neumann wrote in the letter. “Both the FBI & National Association of School Resource Officers recommendations for violence prevention in schools do not support arming individuals with direct student responsibility. In the event of an active shooting, the main purpose of armed school security is to neutralize the threat and prevent loss of life and bodily harm. Anyone who hasn’t received extensive training, such as that provided to law enforcement officers, will likely be mentally unprepared to take a life, especially the life of a student assailant.”

As of Wednesday, the letter has more than 4,000 signatures from parents, teachers and administrators from across Tennessee. While constituents sign on to the letter, others argue allowing teachers to arm themselves would help protect students from school threats.

During the Covenant School shooting last year, teachers acted appropriately and did what they could in their capacity to protect children without the use of a gun, Neumann said.

“Our teachers were heroes on March 27, 2023. They stayed in the classroom and made sure our children knew where to hide so they would be safe, and they kept them calm and quiet,” the letter reads. “While I strongly support armed security in our schools to protect our children, that responsibility cannot fall on those with direct student responsibility who must focus on maintaining shelter for the children safely and quietly. A teacher with a handgun is no match for a shooter with an AR-15 and the risks of having guns in classrooms is far too great.”

Neumann is still collecting signatures and plans to deliver them to members of House Leadership this week, including Rep. Ryan Williams, House Rep. WIlliam Lamberth, and Gov. Bill Lee.

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