In 2018, the NRA attempted to force Tennessee public schools to allow permit holding teachers and employees to carry guns on school property. In the House Civil Justice Committee last year, we heard over an hour of testimony in opposition to arming teachers. Much of the testimony came from law enforcement. Both the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police and the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association made it very clear that they philosophically and fundamentally oppose the idea of arming teachers.

The Tennessee Education Association also testified, raising concerns about situations where a teacher or administrator carrying a gun may have a disagreement with a colleague who was not carrying a gun, or whether a teacher trying to break up a fight between two adult-sized high school students would have adequate training to protect their firearm in such a situation.

Ultimately, the bill was defeated. But, with just weeks to go in the 2019 session, an amendment that would allow any public school employee with a permit to carry loaded guns inside K-12 schools was added to a previously filed bill.

The legislation will be before both the House and Senate Education Committees on April 10th. Click the button below to learn more about the legislation, why law enforcement (still) opposes the idea, and how you can quickly and easily contact members of both committees to urge them to vote NO on HB1380/SB1399.

RECENT INCIDENTS INVOLVING TEACHERS AND GUNS IN SCHOOLS:

Gun-Trained Teacher Accidentally Shoots Gun In Calif. High School Classroom
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/14/593531945/gun-trained-teacher-accidentally-shoots-gun-in-calif-high-school-classroom

North Georgia teacher convicted for opening fire in classroom
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/north-georgia-teacher-convicted-for-opening-fire-in-classroom/85-574828115

Blount County substitute teacher accidentally shoots gun in classroom
https://www.wvtm13.com/article/blount-county-substitute-teacher-accidentally-shoots-gun-in-classroom/26911967

Teacher shoots self at Lithia Springs High School
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/teacher-shoots-self-at-lithia-springs-high-school/85-465045529