Tennessee House Education Committee To Hear Bill Allowing Teachers to Be Armed

Image Credit: Middle Tennessee Firearms Training LLC / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

The Tennessee House Education Administration is scheduled to consider a bill that would allow teachers and staff members at Tennessee public schools to carry guns to provide greater protection for students.

House Bill 1202, sponsored by State Representative Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville-District 42), would authorize school faculty and staff members to carry concealed weapons “subject to certain conditions, including obtaining an enhanced handgun carry permit and completing annual training.”

The bill has already passed the House Civil Justice Committee and is on the Education Administration’s April 5th calendar.

This bill revises the requirements for a person employed by an LEA as a faculty or staff member at a school within the LEA to carry a firearm on school grounds as follows:

(1) Limits the type of firearm and manner of carry to a concealed handgun;

(2) Specifies that a person must not be prohibited from carrying a handgun under the laws of Tennessee or federal law;

(3) Replaces the requirement for joint written authorization of the director of schools in conjunction with the principal of the school with written authorization of the chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency;

(4) Removes the requirement for current or prior law enforcement experience;

(5) Adds that, in addition to the initial 40 hours of basic training in school policing, the faculty or staff member must complete a minimum of 40 hours of POST commission-approved training that is specific to school policing each year in order to retain the authorization;

(6) Specifies that students may not be so authorized, even if the person is a student and an employee; and

(7) Specifies certain places where a concealed firearm may not be carried, such as: auditoriums and stadiums where school events are taking place; certain meetings; clinics and hospitals; and areas that are posted as prohibiting possession of firearms.

The Senate version of the bill (SB1325), sponsored by Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta-District 15) is scheduled to be heard today (April 4th) by the Senate Judiciary Committee. However, Chair of the Committee Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10 ) has said that the Senate Judiciary “will not hear any gun bills, anything related to gun bills this year.” Gardenhire said that he is “embarrassed” that some lawmakers are trying to make the Covenant School incident “a political issue and take advantage of a complete tragedy.” 

It is unknown whether Gardenhire’s statement is binding, meaning that no gun legislation will be able to progress this session or whether he can be overruled and be compelled to allow legislation to continue the legislative process.

Anyone who would like to express support for this bill can contact members of the House Education Administration before their April 5 meeting using the contact information below:

House Education Administration Committee Members

Rep. Mark White -Chair – (R-Memphis) – rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-4415

Rep. William Slater – Vice-Chair – (R-Gallatin) – rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-2534

Rep. Charlie Baum (R-Murfreesboro) – rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-6849

Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) – rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-6808

Rep. Ed Butler (R-Rickman) – rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-1260

Rep. Monty Fritts (R-Kingston) – rep.monty.fritts@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-7658

Rep. Ron Gant (R-Piperton) – rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-6890

Rep. John Gillespie (R-Memphis) – rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-8201

Rep. Kirk Haston (R-Lobelville) – rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-0750

Rep. Chris Hurt (R-Halls) – rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-2134

Rep. Justin Lafferty (R-Knoxville) – rep.justin.lafferty@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-4110

Rep. Harold Love, Jr. (D-Nashville) – rep.harold.love@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-3831

Rep. Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville) – rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-0768

Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis) – rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-4575

Rep. John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge) – rep.john.ragan@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-4400

Rep. Robert Stevens (R-Smyrna) – rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-3830

Rep. Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill) – rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov – 615-741-4170

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com