About Guns and Schools

Where do Tennessee lawmakers stand

The Education Report is nearing 2000 subscribers! Thank you! If you enjoy these updates and want to help support this content, please consider becoming a paid subscriber at the link below. Please also be sure to share this post with anyone you know who is a defender of public education.

Monday’s school shooting in Nashville is a jarring reminder that those on the front lines of education face a range of potential threats.

In the aftermath of that event, a number of state policymakers made statements - often offering condolences or other words of sympathy/empathy.

I thought it might be of interest to compare those words with legislation sponsored by these policymakers.

Speaker Cameron Sexton @CSexton25

No harm should ever come to any child. At some point today, please take a moment to pray for the families impacted by this tragedy. As we continue learning more details, we appreciate law enforcement and first responders for their quick response neutralizing the threat.

Sexton is a co-sponsor of HB 1158 - a bill that would lower the age for permitless carry in Tennessee from 21 to 18.

Photo by maxx ❄ on Unsplash

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally:

Randy McNally @ltgovmcnally

Heartbroken by the tragic shooting in Nashville. Praying for the families of those who have died as well as all parents, students and staff. Thankful for the work of law enforcement who stopped the perpetrator and tended to the wounded. All in Nashville are in my thoughts today.

Stephanie Langston @stephnthecity

ACTIVE SHOOTING UPDATE: Three students and three staff members were killed by the shooter, who was tentatively identified as a teenage girl. @WKRN https://t.co/3JfsYD5SLu

Here’s what McNally said about the extension of permitless carry:

"There is a danger," said McNally, a Republican from Oak Ridge. "With the gangs and things like that, a lot of times they use children that are 18 years old because they go to juvenile court."

McNally adds that he feels almost obligated to support the bill after Tennessee Attorney General Johnathan Skrmetti signed off on a court agreement that would officially lower the age if a judge officially signs off on the deal.

"I told him at that time that I didn’t like it, but I’d have to hold my nose and go along with it," said McNally.

In short, the state’s top legislative leaders are poised to expand access to guns even as Nashville experiences the fallout from a school shooting.