Results for: Teacher Safety

Despite widespread opposition, Tennessee’s legislature has approved a bill that would allow teachers and staff with concealed carry permits to bring guns into public schools. Representative Justin J. Pearson, a Democrat, strongly opposes the bill, citing concerns about potential accidents, unintentional discharges, and mistaken identity by police officers. He intends to advocate for Governor Bill Lee to veto the bill. The bill’s passage comes after the Covenant School shooting in Nashville last year, which led to an executive order from the governor to strengthen background checks for firearm purchases.

In the wake of recent school shootings, Republican-controlled legislatures in Tennessee and Iowa have passed laws allowing teachers and school staff to carry concealed handguns on campus. These measures, supported by the National Rifle Association, are met with fierce opposition from gun control advocates, who argue that arming teachers does not address the root cause of school shootings: access to guns. While the laws claim to prioritize school safety, critics warn of the dangers of creating a ‘guns everywhere culture’ and question the lack of transparency surrounding who is armed on campus.

Violence and poor behavior among students have escalated in recent years, according to teaching unions. The government reported a record number of school suspensions and permanent exclusions in England in 2023. A poll by the NASUWT union revealed that 89% of teachers observed an increase in violent and abusive behavior from students. Following a stabbing incident at Amman Valley School in Wales, union leaders emphasized the need for ensuring staff and student safety. The attack at a school in Gloucestershire last year and the tragic stabbing of a teacher in Leeds a decade ago highlight the ongoing issue of weapon possession and violence in educational settings.

The Tennessee House of Representatives has passed a bill that would allow some teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns on public school grounds, despite widespread opposition from the public. The bill passed by a vote of 68-28 and now heads to Republican Governor Bill Lee for his consideration. If Lee signs the bill into law, it would be the biggest expansion of gun access in the state since last year’s deadly shooting at a private elementary school in Nashville. The bill has drawn fierce criticism from parents, students, and gun control advocates, who argue that it will make schools less safe. Protesters chanted “Blood on your hands” at Republican lawmakers after the vote and were forcibly removed from the galleries. Four House Republicans and all Democrats opposed the bill, which the state Senate previously passed. The measure would bar disclosing which employees are carrying guns beyond school administrators and police, including to students’ parents and even other teachers. A principal, school district, and law enforcement agency would have to agree to let staff carry guns.

In the wake of protests and opposition from Democrats and some Republicans, Tennessee House Republicans have passed a bill that would allow some teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns on public school grounds. The bill, which was sent to Republican Governor Bill Lee for consideration, would bar parents and other teachers from knowing who is armed. If signed into law, it would mark the biggest expansion of gun access in the state since last year’s deadly shooting at a private elementary school in Nashville.

The Tennessee state legislature passed a bill that would allow teachers and school staff to carry concealed handguns in schools. The legislation, backed by Republicans, faced opposition from Democrats who argued it would increase the risk of children being shot. The bill allows faculty or staff who choose to carry a concealed handgun to remain confidential except to an administrative officer responsible for safety. It passed the House 68-28 and the Senate 26-5 along party lines. If signed into law by Governor Bill Lee, Tennessee would join at least 32 other states that permit teachers to carry guns in schools.