Tennessee House erupts into chaos after Republicans advance a bill to arm school teachers

The Tennessee House of Representatives descended into chaos once again on Tuesday after the body passed House Bill 1202 and Senate Bill 1325, legislation allowing teachers and school staff to carry concealed handguns on school property.

When the bills passed the Republican-dominated House mostly on party lines, chants erupted from the gallery like “Vote them out” and “Blood on your hands.” House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) ordered state troopers to clear the gallery, which consisted of teachers, students and parents of children who attend the Covenant Elementary School in Nashville. The vote comes 13 months after the deadly shooting at the Covenant School, where six people died, including three children.

⚡️JUST NOW: “BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS!!!”

Chaos erupts in the Tennessee House as Republicans pass the @RyanWilliamsTN arming teachers bill against the will of the people, with hundreds of students and parents looking on. pic.twitter.com/Iv7FzGLYYb

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) April 23, 2024

The bill passed by a vote of 68-28 and will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s (R) desk.

During the session, Sexton also ruled Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) out of order for filming with his camera on the House floor. Rep. Chris Todd (R-Madison County) reportedly shoved Jones, but Sexton and the other members did not rule him out of order.

Rep Chris Todd just shoved @brotherjones_ and Republicans voted against ruling him out of order. However, Republicans ruled Jones out of order twice for video taping with his phone.

— Rep. Gloria Johnson (@VoteGloriaJ) April 23, 2024

Before the vote, Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville), who co-sponsored HB 1202, argued that the bill would deter gun violence in schools. The text requires anyone attempting to carry a firearm on school property to obtain a permit, annual training, pass a background check and receive permission from the school district, a law enforcement agency and the principal of the employee’s school.

After the bill passed the Tennessee Senate earlier this month, a teacher from Covenant School wrote a letter that was later read in a press conference against the armed teacher bills.

“As I reflect on this time, I simply cannot imagine how I could have pulled out a gun with 10 children under foot and in my arms,” the letter said. “I think of all the terrible things that could have gone wrong had I had a gun. My job that day, in the face of such terror, was not to take down a killer, who was carrying multiple firearms – including a military-style assault rifle. My job was to move my students to safety, secure the area, keep them calm so they would not cry or make a loud noise, comfort them, and reassure myself that trained law enforcement would do their job at taking out the threat as soon as possible.”