Tennessee allows concealed carry in schools by staff with Governor Lee’s signed legislation, but parental knowledge is banned and agreement required from principal, district & police

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed into law legislation that allows teachers and staff in public schools to carry concealed handguns. The bill, which came about as support grew within the Republican-dominated General Assembly for arming educators, will become effective immediately but parents and other teachers will be barred from knowing who is carrying a weapon at their school. Principals, school districts and law enforcement agencies must all agree to let staff carry guns before workers can apply with written authorisation and undergo background checks and 40 hours of handgun training. The legislation marks the most significant expansion of gun access in the state since last year’s tragic elementary shooting incident at a private Nashville school where six people lost their lives, including three children and three adults. Covenant families who had met with Lee and lawmakers to try persuade them against arming teachers said they collected nearly 4,300 signatures from Tennesseans opposing the idea of having public school staffers carry weapons on campus. However, Governor Bill Lee stated that while there are disagreements about how best to keep children safe, everyone agrees it is essential for schools to be secure environments. It remains unclear if any school districts will take advantage of this new law when it comes into effect.