Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday allowing teachers in the state to carry concealed handguns at school, as protesters shouted their opposition from the podium.
The bill was approved by a 68-28 vote in the Republican-dominated Tennessee House.
The state Senate passed the bill earlier this month.
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Tennessee has seen heated debate over gun laws since last year’s shooting at a Nashville school that left three children and three adult staff members dead.
Some House Democrats helped lead protests inside the capitol, leading to their brief expulsion from the assembly last year.
“This is a terrible day for Tennessee, our children, our teachers and our communities,” state Rep. Justin Pearson, a Democrat who was expelled from the House last year before to be re-elected. “Instead of protecting the children, they protected the guns AGAIN!” »
Republicans and other conservatives have often insisted that teachers be armed in response to the numerous school shootings that have occurred in the United States over the past 25 years.
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Supporters of the measures say armed teachers deter potential school shooters.
Critics say guns in schools will likely only lead to tragic accidental shootings.
About half of U.S. states allow teachers or other school employees to carry guns on school grounds, according to the Giffords Law Center, a gun safety group.
Under the Tennessee bill, anyone wishing to carry a concealed handgun into a school would have to complete at least 40 hours of school police training.
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The cost of the training – as well as the cost of the firearm – must be paid by the individual.
The identity of the teacher or staff member who carries a gun would not be public, according to the bill.
School leaders must agree to the person carrying a firearm, and local law enforcement officials must be informed of the identity of the bearer.
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