Bill to Arm Teachers Clears Legislative Hurdle

A bill to arm some Tennessee teachers passed yet another key legislative hurdle, moving one step closer going before the full state House.
The legislation would allow a select number of teachers to carry guns on campuses across Tennessee. It would expand a 2016 law that already allows two rural counties to have armed teachers.
The bill passed the House Civil Justice Committee on Tuesday on an 8-3
Less than half of the state’s roughly 1,800 schools have a school resource officer in the building. The bill has over 45 House sponsors. An amendment was added to the bill during the committee that would eliminate the need to arm teachers if a school resource officer is at a school.
The proposal to arm teachers has faced pushback from law enforcement, education and parent groups. Haslam has said he has concerns about the bill.
The bill would give school boards and school directors the power to adopt a policy allowing select school staff to carry a concealed firearm on school property.