Tensions ran high in the Tennessee Senate as lawmakers passed a controversial bill that will allow teachers to carry concealed guns in schools, a move that has sparked fury among parents and educators alike. The legislation stipulates that school employees must undergo proper training and background checks before packing heat in classrooms. During the floor session, Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta), the bill's Senate sponsor, attempted to clarify misconceptions, claiming, "There's been a lot of misinformation about this legislation,” as reported by WSMV. “This bill does not require any teacher in the state to carry a gun while working."
However, discourse in the gallery was disrupted when Senator Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) highlighted the contradictions in state policies, stating, "A teacher is not allowed to put a rainbow pride flag on their desk, but she's allowed to carry a gun in this state,” which led to an immediate eruption from the gallery's observers. Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Grove) was then forced to order the Sergeant-at-Arms to clear the gallery, as detailed by Tennessee Lookout.
As the debate resumed, Senator London Lamar (D-Memphis) implored her colleagues to heed the public's pleading, "Look at the gallery, they are asking you not to do this," "Put partisan politics aside, I ask you this all the time, but this bill is dangerous. Don’t do it," she said in a session marked by emotional appeals from lawmakers and citizens. Despite the protestations, the Senate passed the bill with a 26-5 majority. It wasn't long before charged chants of "Vote them out" could be heard spilling from the hallway, as reported by WPSD Local 6.
Covenant School mothers Mary Joyce and Melissa Alexander were among those left with deep emotions following the vote. “My child survived because the teacher kept the classroom quiet," Alexander relayed, stressing the point to legislators and in a statement obtained by WSMV. Despite their efforts to amend the bill, they fear the expedited legislative process is driven more by the looming election year than by the concern for student safety. Their fight will continue, they vowed, as they now turn their focus to the House, where the bill awaits further scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the bill has faced staunch criticism from Democratic senators. Amendments like barring unlicensed staff from being armed and mandatory de-escalation training were effectively shot down. Warnings abounded of the potential dangers this bill entails - scenarios where teachers could accidentally, or even deliberately, in a scuffle, shoot a student. Still, proponents of the bill, such as Senator Bailey, argue that confidentiality regarding who carries a weapon in school could serve as a deterrent and that the stringent training is designed to prevent accidental discharges.
