Weeks After One Year Mark of Mass Shooting at The Covenant School, Tennessee Senate Lawmakers Pass Bill to Arm Teachers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –  The Tennessee chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statements in response to Tennessee Senate lawmakers passing a dangerous bill to arm teachers. Last legislative session, lawmakers attempted to unsuccessfully pass similar legislation. Now lawmakers are once again attempting to put more guns into schools, accelerating the passage of SB1325  which will likely be heard on the House floor this week.

“As a student studying to be a teacher, I know that managing a classroom is already tough enough without adding a deadly weapon into the mix,” said Bobbi Sloan, a volunteer leader with Vanderbilt Students Demand Action chapter. “For every gun that’s placed in a classroom, a new opportunity is created for students to become another statistic. This is not the solution. In fact, it’s absolutely absurd to respond to our cries for change with a bill that will only endanger us more.” 

“We should be listening to Tennessee law enforcement, teachers, superintendents and more who have spoke out against arming teachers. And, most importantly, we should be listening to Tennesseans, who are worried that their children won’t come home from school every day,” said Linda McFadyen-Ketchum, a volunteer with the Tennessee chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We should not be afraid to send our kids to school, but extremist lawmakers are hellbent on expanding the gun lobby’s guns everywhere agenda and putting our kids at risk. Lawmakers should reject this legislation immediately.” 

Last session, in the wake of the deadly mass shooting at The Covenant School, Students Demand Action, Moms Demand Action volunteers, and survivors mobilized, calling for action on gun violence prevention, especially an Extreme Risk law, in Tennessee and across the country. In response, Governor Lee called for a special session on public safety, but failed to take any meaningful action on gun safety, instead pushing for dangerous legislation that would put more guns in schools.

Research shows that arming teachers introduces new risks of gun violence in schools and puts the lives of students, teachers, and law enforcement in danger – states with the weakest gun laws tend to have higher rates of gun violence than states with stronger gun laws. Tennessee currently has the 12th highest rate of gun deaths in the United States and some of the weakest gun laws in the country. Guns are the number one killer of children and teens in the U.S. and in Tennessee.

To speak with a Tennessee Moms Demand Action volunteer, please do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected].