Lawmaker proposes bill that would allow school employees to carry handguns
Nashville TN January 17, 2023 A lawmaker is proposing that school employees can carry handguns to help people working at schools feel safer.
Some lawmakers say this will help teachers and other employees feel more protected in schools. Others say the last thing needed in schools is more guns.
Rep. Jay Reedy proposed this bill, HB0041, that would allow the director of schools to authorize and select employees who may carry a concealed handgun on school grounds.
Rep. Reedy told FOX 17 News that he is not ready for a comment at this time, but other lawmakers weighed in.
“If it would help make our teachers feel safer, I would support it,” Sen. Mark Pody said.
“The last thing we need is more firearms in our public schools,” Rep. John Ray Clemmons emphasized.
“The answer is most definitely not putting more firearms in our school system and putting that additional burden on our public school teachers. That’s a very risky situation and creating an even more unsafe environment,” Rep. Clemmons explained.
While Sen. Mark Pody says he would support the bill, he emphasizes the work to make schools safer needs to be done on the district level.
“I would really hope that we can get our school boards and such to step up and add some more protection,” Sen. Pody emphasized.
FOX 17 News reached out to Metro Nashville Public Schools for a comment, and their spokesperson says they do not comment on newly filed legislation.
FOX 17 News responded by asking what new safety procedures the district has in place. Some of these include additional support from Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), classroom doors that open outward and lock from the inside, networked security camera systems, and more.
