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Tennessee lawmakers pass bill allowing teachers, staff members carry concealed handguns on campus

Staff members must have the approval of school officials without parents and other staff members being notified.

• April 24, 2024
Handguns
Handguns [Credit: Wikipedia]

The American state of Tennessee has passed a bill to allow teachers and other school staff to carry concealed handguns on campus to prevent shootings after a private Christian school incident left six dead a year ago.

According to the New York Times, Democrats and some Republicans opposed the bill but the legislation eventually passed it on Tuesday which was an expected outcome due to the Republican Party having the majority in the state’s legislative house.

If the bill becomes law, it would be a major expansion in the state’s current law which limits the right to carry firearms at public schools to law enforcement officers employed at a public school or to school resource officers.

The bill would require staff members wanting to carry concealed firearms to undergo 40 hours of school policing training, undergo a background check, submit fingerprints to state and federal authorities, and submit a psychological certification from a licensed health provider.

However, they must have the approval of school officials without parents and other staff members being notified — but handguns will be banned in auditoriums or stadiums during school events; during disciplinary or tenure meetings; or in a clinic.

Meanwhile, the bill is expected to become law when it goes through state’s Republican governor Bill Lee’s office. He is expected not to veto the bill as he hasn’t exercised the power in more than his five years tenure in office.

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