One of two bills concerning firearms in schools and on school grounds was recommended for passage in separate committees on Wednesday.
HB7086, according to its summary, would “authorize a faculty or staff member of a school to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds subject to certain conditions, including obtaining an enhanced handgun carry permit and completing basic training in school policing.”
The House Civil Justice Committee recommended the bill for passage on Wednesday.
After the committee voted on the bill, gun control advocates were cleared out of the committee room, with some individuals shouting at lawmakers, “you’re sick.”
The bill that did not pass through committee on Wednesday, HB7064, according to its summary, would have allowed law enforcement officers, retired law enforcement officers, active or retired US armed forces members, and enhanced handgun carry permit holders, with exceptions, to possess and carry a handgun in all public school properties, including any building, bus, campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field, or any property owned/used by public educational institutions.
After being recommended for passage by the House Civil Justice Committee on Tuesday, the House Education Administration Committee opposed the bill on Wednesday with a 9-9 tie vote.
While deliberating the bill within the Education Administration Committee, Chairman Mark White (R-Memphis) found it necessary to call for a 5-minute recess. His decision came after State Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) accused the committee of being “out of order,” citing his frustration that he and another Democrat on the committee had not been recognized as the first lawmakers to provide input on the bill.
Members of the audience could be heard yelling “cowards” at lawmakers during the committee’s recess.
“Ending gun-free zones where our precious commodities are housed – day in and day out – is the key to preventing these shootings once and for all,” the bill’s sponsor, Representative Chirs Todd (R-Madison County) stated during the bill’s discussion. “There is no gun violence. There is no knife violence. There is no storm violence. It is people violence. People are the problem. Evil people want to take our children’s lives and make a name for themselves – and that is wrong.”
The audience cheered as the final vote count was read aloud.
Under current Tennessee law, it is generally a Class E felony for a person to possess or carry a weapon on school property, with the intent to go armed. Additionally, it is generally a Class B misdemeanor for a person to possess or carry (regardless of whether the person intended to be armed) a firearm on school property in the Volunteer State.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
