Tennessee teachers could soon be allowed to carry firearms while on school property. The State Senate is poised to vote on legislation allowing faculty and staff to carry concealed weapons if they are licensed, trained, and undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Tuesday to advance SB 1325, which would authorize school faculty or staff members “to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds subject to certain conditions, including obtaining an enhanced handgun carry permit and completing annual training.”
Specifically, the text of the legislation requires faculty and staff to first obtain “and maintain a valid handgun carry permit,” have no prohibitions against firearm ownership, obtain “written authorization of the chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency to carry or possess a concealed handgun on school grounds” and complete 40 hours of “school policing” training each year.
Information about faculty and staff members who have been given permission to carry weapons must also be turned over to local law enforcement.
State Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta), who sponsored the legislation, stressed the stringent requirements to the committee.
Bailey explained, “They must possess a valid handgun carry permit issued by this state, must be fingerprinted by the appropriate law enforcement agency, must pass a psychological evaluation. They must have written authorization of the chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency; they must complete a minimum of 40 hours of training specific to school policing that has been approved by Peace Officer Standards & Training Commission.”
The requirements for school employees to carry guns are tougher than in Ohio, where Governor Mike DeWine signed legislation in 2022 that allows teachers to carry firearms after just 24 hours of training.
Governments in other states have taken similar steps, with Georgia’s Cobb County in 2022 voting to allow education employees to carry firearms on school property. The county’s policy specifically precluded teachers from taking firearms to schools.
Despite the stringent requirements, gun control group Moms Demand Action nonetheless reportedly opposes the bill, claiming parents should have a say over whether guns are present at their children’s school.
After receiving approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee, the legislation will advance to a full vote in the Tennessee Senate.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
I went to a Titans game season before last and noticed the open carry of guns, not only outside by police, but inside the stadium among the fans by I suppose, private security. Hopefully none of the people opposing armed protection of students in schools brought their young people to the “militarized” NFL stadium to be subjected to open armed protection.
This is such a sad comment on the state of America right now. No one should have to be armed in schools because everyone should have the moral decency to not even consider shooting ANYONE. Sadly I have support this legislation.
Awesome!