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‘Blood on Your Hands’: Tennessee Republicans OK Arming Teachers After Deadly School Shooting

Republicans in the Tennessee House passed legislation Tuesday afternoon allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons in classrooms across the state, thirteen months after a 28-year old shooter slaughtered three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville.
The measure is reportedly not popular statewide, with Democrats, teachers, and parents from the school, Covenant Elementary, largely opposed. The Republican Speaker of the House, Cameron Sexton, at one point literally shut down debate on the bill by shutting off a Democratic lawmaker’s microphone and then smiling.
During debate on a bill to arm teachers, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) mutes and laughs at State Rep. Bo Mitchell (D-Nashville) as he tries to apologize for Covenant School shooting victims for what the legislature is doing.
SEXTON: “His mic’s not on.” pic.twitter.com/CeN3viAdm9
— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) April 23, 2024
Ultimately, Republican Rep. Ryan Williams’s legislation passed the GOP majority House as protestors in the gallery shouted their objections: “Blood on your hands.”
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The legislation bars parents from being informed if their child’s teacher has a gun in the classroom.
HAPPENING NOW: @tnhousegop House Republicans are stuffing their faces with CHIC-FIL-A as they kill amendments on the @RyanWilliamsTN arming teachers bill
The amendments from Dems would require safe storage in schools, notify teachers, etc… all blocked on party lines. pic.twitter.com/cXGjFmN3g4
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) April 23, 2024
State Troopers were called to “prevent people from getting close to the House chambers,” WSMV’s Marissa Sulek reports.
State troopers are forming a wall to prevent people from getting close to the House chambers. @WSMV pic.twitter.com/BGQPHzJwUR
— Marissa Sulek (@marissa_sulek) April 23, 2024
I just spoke with this local teacher before the session. She spoke out during it and shouted “this is insane” she is now being escorted out. @WSMV pic.twitter.com/TmveqEldBX
— Marissa Sulek (@marissa_sulek) April 23, 2024
“You’re going to kill kids,” one woman had yelled at Rep. Williams from the gallery on Monday, The Tennessean reports. “You’re going to be responsible for the death of children. Shame on you.”
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Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones said on social media, “This is what fascism looks like.”
Tennessee Republicans just cut off debate and passed a bill to arm teachers in our schools.
The public chanted “Blood on your hands!” as the Speaker ordered troopers to clear the gallery.
This is what fascism looks like. pic.twitter.com/9mg67oWMxM
— Rep. Justin Jones (@brotherjones_) April 23, 2024
“In recent weeks,” the paper also reports, “parents of school shooting survivors, students and gun-reform advocates have heavily lobbied against the bill, with one Covenant School mom delivering a letter to the House on Monday with more than 5,300 signatures asking lawmakers to kill the bill.”
The bill, which already passed the state Senate, now heads to Republican Governor Bill Lee’s desk. He is expected to sign it into law.
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