Lawmakers inch closer to passing a bill that could arm teachers with concealed guns
The bill is on target to clear the Senate but is held on the desk in the House.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Lawmakers are close to passing a bill that could arm teachers with guns.
HB1202/SB1325 would not require but would allow people who work at schools to carry concealed guns on school property.
The bill was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) presented the bill, which would allow certain staff members to carry concealed guns in schools. They would also have to get a psychological evaluation, background check, and 40 hours of training per year.
JC Bowman, with Professional Educators of Tennessee, believes the bill is not thought through enough.
“The liability issue alone is going to cost the districts a lot more money,” he said.
He said shifting school safety from the school onto teachers or administrators is a concern — one Senator London Lamar (D-Memphis) has as well.
“I don’t think it’s the responsibility of the teachers in our state who have taken an oath to watch our children to now become law enforcement officers too,” she said.
Senator Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield) voted to pass the bill to the Senate Calendar Committee on Tuesday.
“Sometimes there’s a difference in what the bill can do and what the bill will do,” he said.
He doesn’t think many teachers will end up carrying a gun, but it could help rural schools that don’t have a School Resource Officer (SRO).
“It’s going to be concentrated in these 500 some schools that don’t have an SRO,” Sen. Roberts said. “And you’ll generally see it’s probably an administrator of the school, not a teacher.”
Bowman said he talks to administrators daily, and some fear the bill goes too far.
“I talked to two superintendents about this today,” he said. “They both said the same thing, the liability alone would concern them.”
The bill is on target to clear the Senate but is held on the desk in the House. That means it’s not going anywhere, but that could change — it could be amended or added to another bill.
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