Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signs law allowing armed teachers in schools with conditions

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently signed legislation permitting teachers and staff in schools throughout the state to carry concealed weapons inside school buildings and campuses subject to specific conditions. The bill authorizes faculty or personnel of educational institutions to bear arms on campus with approval from their principal, as well as other authorized individuals who possess a gun permit.
The law requires educators seeking permission for carrying firearms undergo various criteria including completing 40 hours each year at personal expense in both basic training and school policing-specific courses offered by the Peace Officer’s Standards and Training commission (POSTC). Additionally, applicants must pass background checks as well as psychological examinations conducted by licensed healthcare providers.
The law also specifies that weapons cannot be openly carried or displayed within view of ordinary observation in stadiums, gymnasiums, auditoriums during school-related events or meetings discussing disciplinary issues or teacher tenure matters. Furthermore, parents would not necessarily receive notification if their child’s instructor is armed under the new legislation.
The move has sparked widespread opposition with proponents suggesting it places children at increased risk by creating hazards where there aren’t any while critics have likened arming teachers to requiring social workers and other non-police staffers to be experts in marksmanship instead of their specialized areas such as counseling or child development.
After the vote, individuals protested against legislators with chants of “Blood on your hands,” while Tennessee Education Association (TEA) spokespeople issued statements condemning Lee’s decision and called for measures that prioritize education over increased danger to students – many echoes quotes by experts like Chris Cogdill a social studies teacher, stating they want nothing more than their pupils’ safe return home but believe there must be better ways of achieving this goal without relying on teachers carrying guns.