Covenant mom demands Governor Lee vetoes bill that arms teachers
Gov. Lee has 10 days to sign this bill into law.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Some Covenant School moms are asking people to call Gov. Bill Lee’s office and have him veto SB 1325.
After protests rang through the Tennessee State Capitol on Tuesday, Covenant School mom, Beth Gebhard said she wants to try and stop the bill one last time.
“We are demanding that he veto this legislation,” she said.
Gebhard wants Tennesseans to call or text “TN” to 64433 and leave a message for Gov. Lee as it heads to his desk.
“I can’t in good conscience go to bed at night knowing what happened to me and my family happened to another family, and I didn’t stand up,” she added.
On Wednesday, Dr. Scott Langford, Superintendent of Sumner County Schools, posted a video on Facebook that said they will not be arming teachers, principals or staff. They, along with Metro Nashville Public Schools and Rutherford County Schools, are already taking a stance against the bill.
As for Wilson County Schools, Williamson County Schools, and the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, they have not decided as it is pending legislation.
Wednesday, WSMV4 also heard from the Tennessee Education Association who said if the bill becomes law teachers will be held liable, which is too much risk for insurance companies.
In a statement, they said:
HB 1202/SB 1325 provides immunity for school districts and law enforcement, but it certainly does not for individual educators. Without immunity, teachers would be subject to personal liability. Moreover, as teachers consider the risks of carrying a firearm on school grounds, they need to know that it is unlikely they could obtain insurance coverage that would offer them any sort of protection should a claim be made against them. It is just too much risk for an insurance company.
As for Gebhard, she is hopeful people will start to call Governor Lee as a last-ditch effort.
“The lives of our children are dependent on him vetoing this,” she said.
Gov. Lee has 10 days to sign this bill into law. He can also veto it or not sign it and it still becomes law.
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