Tennessee U.S. Congressman Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) introduced the Teachers Empowered Against Classroom Harm (TEACH) Act on Friday.
I introduced the TEACH Act because we will never be able to ban the intentions of evil people.
We can, however, allow responsible men and women of good will to equip themselves in order to stop bad actors in their tracks.https://t.co/1DWvPpcON9
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) April 28, 2023
Ogles’ bill would “expand access to firearms for educators to protect their classrooms” by “allowing teachers and school staff the option to participate in defensive training programs aimed at protecting schools and their children.”
The Tennessee congressman’s bill comes just one month after 28-year-old Audrey Elizabeth Hale shot her way into The Presbyterian Covenant School in Nashville on March 27 and killed three children and three adults.
“Right now, Education Secretary Cardona has a personal slush fund of over $27.5 million dollars – instead of using that money to advance the Left’s indoctrination campaign, we should work to ensure that our kids are safe from armed intruders,” Congressman Ogles said in a statement. “We will never be able to ban the intentions of evil people but we can allow responsible men and women of good will to equip themselves in order to stop bad actors in their tracks. This bill would help make our students, educators, and classrooms safer.”
Ogles’ bill is sponsored by U.S. Representatives Lauren Boebert (R-CO-03), Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04), Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Michael Cloud (R-TX-27), Troy Nehls (R-TX-22), Alex Mooney (R-WV-02), Barry Moore (R-AL-02), Mark Amodei (R-NV-02), Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14).
Gun Owners of America (GOA), a gun rights organization, endorsed Ogles’ TEACH Act.
GOA is proud to endorse this legislation from @RepOgles! 👏 https://t.co/5YbdXlHnBT
— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) April 28, 2023
GOA Director of Federal Affairs Aiden Johnston said, “GOA is proud to endorse this legislation from Rep. Ogles… There’s a reason that no school shooting has occurred at a school with armed teachers, and Rep. Ogles’ legislation will play a critical role in hardening schools by creating a pool of federal funds to train willing teachers and modernizing school firearms policies at a time where over half of the United States recognize Constitutional Carry.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Andrew Ogles” by Andrew Ogles. Background Photo “Classroom” by Wokandapix.
