On Wednesday, legislation that would allow Tennessee teachers and staff to carry guns at school for self-defense passed the House Education Administration and Planning Committee.
House Bill 1751, sponsored by Republican Rep. David Byrd, is directed toward smaller school systems that don’t have the funds for school resource officers. The measure is intended to “give school systems in distressed rural counties the ability to allow certain staff and volunteers to carry guns at school and school-sponsored activities,” said Byrd.
The second bill, House Bill 1736, would permit full-time employees of state public colleges or universities to carry a handgun on campus if they have a valid Tennessee concealed-carry permit. HB 1736 is sponsored by Republican state Rep. Andy Holt. An amendment to the bill that included an opt-out option for private universities failed to pass.
Both bills will now be heard by the Finance Ways and Means Committee.
