The Tennessee legislature passed a bill allowing teachers to carry guns, causing protesters to scream their disapproval and cause chaotic scenes on the state House floor.
The bill was passed just over a year after the Covenant school shooting when a former student killed three students and three adults. It was strongly objected to by Democrats and gun control activists, who made a scene in the state Capitol building. “Blood. On. Your. Hands,” the crowd in the gallery shouted, brandishing protest signs.
It’s chaos in the House as protesters have derailed session.
Representatives all over the floor, Democrats and Republicans going after each other for breaking rules, etc.@WKRN #TNLeg24 pic.twitter.com/3KiPI80q5z
— Chris O’Brien (@THEChrisOB) April 23, 2024
Republican and Democratic state representatives conversed and argued on the floor, accusing each other of breaking rules.
Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton kicked out at least one protester for being too disruptive, according to the Washington Post.
House Democrats, a clear minority in the deep red state, protested the measure.
Democratic state Rep. Bo Mitchell shared his outrage over the passage of the bill in light of the Covenant tragedy. “This is our reaction to students and teachers being murdered in a school? Our reaction is to throw more guns at it. What’s wrong with us?”
At one point, Sexton appeared to mute Mitchell’s microphone, after he drifted off topic in apologizing to the parents in attendance.
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
Also in attendance was Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones, who was expelled last year for disregarding House rules before being quickly reinstated. He joined a “die-in” protest, where activists pretended to be dead.
The Tennessee House just passed a bill that allows teachers and staff to carry a gun to protect the students. Staff who want to carry must go through 40 hours of gun training and have a psychological evaluation.
Left wing activists including Rep. Justin Jones staged a “die in”… pic.twitter.com/i0XbzuUuPg
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) April 23, 2024
“This is what fascism looks like,” he said in a post about the bill on X.
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
Other gun control activists were quick to condemn the bill.
“RECKLESS: The Tennessee House just passed a bill that would allow more teachers to carry guns in schools without notifying parents, despite overwhelming constituent opposition,” Everytown for Gun Safety said in a statement. “This comes one week after Iowa’s governor signed a similar bill. Both Iowa and Tennessee experienced tragic school shootings — and both failed to do the right thing to prevent further gun violence and keep kids safe.”
RECKLESS: The Tennessee House just passed a bill that would allow more teachers to carry guns in schools without notifying parents, despite overwhelming constituent opposition. This comes one week after Iowa’s governor signed a similar bill.
Both Iowa and Tennessee experienced… https://t.co/apCKrIG74p
— Everytown (@Everytown) April 23, 2024
The bill is expected to be signed by Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN). It allows teachers and school staffers to carry concealed handguns if the school’s top administrators approve, but parents, students, and other teachers will not be allowed to know who is armed.
