The Tennessee House Education Administration Committee passed a bill out of the committee that allows those teachers who wish to carry a firearm if their district superintendent signs off, and they meet prescribed requirements. Current law allows teachers who have served as law enforcement agents to carry firearms. This bill, House Bill 1202, would expand those eligible.
The vote passed, after nearly an hour of discussion, by a vote of 12-6. In opposition were three Republicans and three Democrats:
- State Representative Charlie Baum (R – Murfreesboro)
- State Representative John Gillespie (R-Memphis)
- State Representative Mark White (R-Memphis)
- State Representative Harold Love (D-Nashville)
- State Representative Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis)
- State Representative Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville)
State Representative Kirk Heston voted present.
In the opening discussion on the bill, Baum praised the sponsor, State Representative Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville), for adding an amendment to the bill that would strengthen the requirements for a teacher to carry. The amendment adds the requirement that a teacher who wants to be armed must be able to pass a background check, along with a mental health evaluation. In addition, prospective applicants must participate in 40 hours of school policing training, and secure approval from the local police chief, along with the district superintendent and the school principal.
The local superintendent must also approve the required training, and any associated cost is the applicant’s responsibility. Under the bill, those individuals who choose to carry would not be publicly identified. Participation is completely voluntary for both the teacher and the district.
In questioning the sponsor, McKenzie praised the officers who responded to the recent Covenant School shooting, however; questioned if 40 hours is going to be enough time.
During testimony before the committee, Mom’s Demand Action representative Jordan Sparks told members, “Law enforcement typically receive 168 hours of training on average. A bill that allows more access and less training is a recipe for disaster.”
Sparks, who appeared along with two other individuals, spoke in opposition to the bill, telling lawmakers, “This is like Delta not having enough pilots, so they propose to train flight attendants for 40 hours to fly the plane. It’s kind of a half-measure solution.”
He further told lawmakers, “I think a teacher’s role is to teach our children. If you want to put a trained expert in schools, I’m for that all day long.”
State Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) acknowledged the challenge of getting Security Resource Officers (SRO) in every school.
“If you think we are going to have an SRO in every school by next week, you are fooling yourself,” Cepicky said. “We are going to have to find these people, train them, get them certified by sheriffs, and then get them out patrolling. That’s four to five years away.”
He said, “I’m not going to sit up here and jeopardize your children for four to five years. Not while we can train some people to hopefully stop a shooter.”
A text from a teacher, read by State Representative Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill), demanded that lawmakers provide an opportunity for teachers to keep their students safe.
“I’m begging you we need legislation to arm teachers. I would gladly be on the front lines since I am a licensed gun owner. This is insane. Enough is enough,” the representative said.
Several times during the discussion, members of the crowded gallery interrupted the discussion by interjecting comments, earning a rebuke from Chairman Mark White (D-Memphis).
He told the crowd that it was “unfortunate that we have to have this conversation,” but people have to “have a civil debate”.
White added, “It is important to talk as if you are absolutely right, and listen as if you are absolutely wrong.”
In the wake of the bill’s passage, The Tennessee Star reached out to Professional Educators of Tennessee Executive Director JC Bowman.
“School safety starts with the mindset from the community to the school board to the school administration to teachers to students: we are not going to be victims,” he said.
Bowman added:
“The discussion on teachers carrying weapons was rational. Obviously, we have a deep concern shifting the safety of students to teachers and away from the district or SROs. This bill does not do that. However, this has numerous safeguards in place and does not mandate anyone carry a weapon. I think in the end, much like air marshals you won’t notice. I also predict it will be a rare occurrence. Personally, I probably would opt not to carry a weapon. However, in some rural districts, it may make sense.  It is clear after the Covenant School shooting everything is on the table for school safety and it will be an ongoing debate how to educate and keep children safe.”
Now, the bill moves to House Calendar and Rules Committee.
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TC Weber is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. He also writes the blog Dad Gone Wild. Follow TC on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]. He’s the proud parent of two public school children and the spouse of a public school teacher.
