Bill To Allow Teachers & Staff To Conceal Carry Passes House Committee Process, But Is Deferred In Senate To 2024

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative [By Kelly M. Jackson] –

Yesterday, after what was at times a very emotional hearing before the House Education Administration Committee, a bill that will allow for school teachers and staff to carry a concealed handgun was passed on to Calendar and Rules which means it will be sent to the House floor for debate and a vote. However, in the Senate Judiciary Committee, the bill was deferred until January 23, 2024 meaning the legislation will not be allowed to pass the Committee process in the Senate until next year.

HB1202 sponsored by Representative Ryan Williams (R-D42-Cookeville) says Teachers, Principals and School Personnel – As introduced, authorizes 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 annual training. – Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13 and Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 8.

The hearing was attended by several members of the activist gun control advocacy group “Moms Demand Action” and three members of their community testified asking for the bill to fail. The primary concern seemed to be that teachers were not the appropriate people to be handling firearms in an emergency, active shooter circumstance. They conveyed that it wouldn’t matter how much training the teacher or staff member had, or what their background was, teachers should not be armed, and parents should not be made to send their kids into school where their child’s teacher may be armed, yet they would not have been informed of that fact. 

Several of the committee members had statements and questions, most of which were to do with the amount of training that would be required, what that training would look like and how it would be implemented. 

While the advocacy group members in attendance were satisfied with adding more SRO’s to schools, the concern heard from some of the members of the House committee was the time it would take to get those officers recruited, hired, trained and in place would be more time than they would be comfortable with,  leaving students vulnerable to more violence.

The Tennessee Conservative spoke with Representative Bryan Richey (R-D20-Maryville) who voted in favor of the bill who said, “What I like about HB1202 is it is 100% permissive. Each school principal and sheriff’s department will have a say on every teacher that wants to carry. Along with multiple steps to allow this.”

It is documented that there is a statewide shortage of law enforcement officers that are needed on a day-to-day basis just to police in and around the Nashville Metropolitan area and surrounding cities. From city police departments to county sheriffs, all the way up to the State Troopers, every agency is feeling the pinch. 

This bill would serve as a bridge for the gap in law enforcement personnel, allowing for those who are the most capable, with additional training, to be in place in schools throughout the state to serve until all schools that are without an SRO are able to get one.

After an extensive discussion period, and a prayer lead by Representative Harold Love Jr. (D-D58-Nashville), a voice vote was taken.

Aye votes were: Representative Bulso (R-D61-Brentwood), Representative Butler (R-D41-Rickman) , Representative Cepicky (R-D64-Culleoka)  Representative Fritts (R-32-Kingston), Representative Gant (R-D94-Piperton), Representative Hurt (R-D82-Halls), Representative Lafferty (R-D89-Knoxville) , Representative Ragan (R-D33-Oak Ridge), Representative Richey (R-D20-Maryville), Representative Slater (R-D35-Gallatin), Representative Stevens (R-D13-Smyrna), Representative Warner (R-D92-Chapel Hill) for a total of 12. 

Noes were: Representative Baum (R-D37-Murfreesboro), Representative Gillespie (R-D97-Memphis), Representative Love (D-D58-Nashville), Representative McKenzie (D-D15-Knoxville), Representative Parkinson (D-D98-Memphis), Representative White (R-D83-Memphis) for a total of 6. 

Representative Kirk Haston (R-D72-Lobelville ) was present at the meeting but chose to not vote.

The bill will be passed to the House floor, but was tabled in the Senate Judiciary Committee until January of 2024. 

Senator Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10), who chairs the Senate Judiciary, previously stated that the Committee would not consider any more gun-related bills until 2024.

No information is yet available Gardenhire’s stance will affect any gun regulation or school safety initiatives spearheaded by Governor Lee.

About the Author: Kelly Jackson is a recent escapee from corporate America, and a California refugee to Tennessee. Christ follower, Wife and Mom of three amazing teenagers. She has a BA in Comm from Point Loma Nazarene University, and has a background in law enforcement and human resources. Since the summer of 2020, she has spent any and all free time in the trenches with local grassroots orgs, including Mom’s for Liberty Williamson County and Tennessee Stands as a core member.  Outspoken advocate for parents rights, medical freedom, and individual liberty. Kelly can be reached at kelly@tennesseeconservativenews.com.