Amid chants of 'blood on your hands', Tennessee passes bill allowing teachers to carry guns inside schools
Senate passes bill which allows teachers to carry guns in school premises in Tennessee.
The state legislators in Tennessee, United States on Tuesday (April 24) passed a bill which allowed teachers and school staff to carry guns inside the school under certain conditions.
The bill authorised a faculty or staff member of a school to carry a concealed handgun.
The teacherswill have toget an enhanced carry permit and written authorisation from the principal, chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency and superintendent.
The teachers will have to go through a complete background checkas well asa psychological exam conducted by a Tennessee-licensedhealthcareprovider.
They will also be required to complete 40 hours of basic training in school policing as well as 40 hours of PeaceOfficer’sStandards and Training commission-approved training, which will be specific to school policing every year at the expense of the educator.
Bill faces opposition, peoplechant"Blood on your hands"
After the lawmakers voted on the bill, peoplepresentin the room chanted“Bloodon your hands.”
The bill has now moved to the desk of Republican Gov. Bill Lee. If Lee decides not to use veto,thenthe bill will turn into a law with or without his signature.
The legislation was cleared by the Tennessee House in a68-28 vote.The Democrats were joined by four Republicans in opposing the measure.
The measure was passed earlier this month by the state Senate, which is also controlled by the GOP.
Republican state Rep. Ryan Williams on Tuesday said that the bill will increase school safety.
"Ibelieve that this is a method by which we can do that because whatyou'redoing isyou'recreating a deterrent,"Williamssaid on the House floor.
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Meanwhile, Democratic state Rep. Bo Mitchellprotestingagainst the measure, spoke about theshooting inCovenant School shooting in Nashville last year, in which six peoplewere killed.
"This is whatwe’regoing to do.Thisis our reaction to teachers and childrenbeing murderedin a school, ourreaction isgonnathrow more guns at it.What’swrong with us?"saidMitchellon the House floor.
Tennessee is not the first state where teachers are allowed to carry guns inside school premises. As per the Giffords Law Centre, nearly 26 states have laws whichallowschool employees or teachers to carry guns on school grounds.
(With inputs from agencies)