Tennessee House Republicans on Tuesday passed legislation to allow some trained teachers and school staff to carry handguns despite pleas from Democrats, students and gun-reform advocates to defeat the bill.

Dozens of protestors in the galleries began chanting “Blood on your hands” as soon as the legislation passed, prompting House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, to order state troopers to clear the galleries. Many protestors continued to chant and stomp down at lawmakers as the House floor fell into chaos over parliamentary issues.

The bill is all but guaranteed to become law within weeks, as Gov. Bill Lee can either sign it into law or allow it to become law without his signature. Lee has never vetoed a bill.

Armed teachers, who will be required to undergo training that some opponents have argued is not intensive enough, will be allowed to carry handguns in their classrooms and in most campus situations without informing parents and most of their colleagues they’re armed.

  • @Fredselfish
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    737 months ago

    Didn’t I just read a story about a unhinged teacher threatening to shoot another teacher after an argument? And said teacher went to get said gun?

    Yeah this will end with kids dead I can promise you that.

    • @MrVilliam
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      117 months ago

      Yeah this will end with kids dead I can promise you that.

      It started with kids dead, too. It’s interesting how the proposed solution to the problem of too many gun deaths is consistently “let’s try more guns”. Has more guns ever solved this problem?

      Beyond that, they want to take a demographic that is notoriously underpaid, underappreciated, in excessive debt, overstressed, and surrounded by shitty kids all day every day, and they want to give these people guns?! I hope parents are getting bulletproof vests for back to school shopping. And I hope the teachers show up armed to negotiate their teachers unions contracts.

    • @[email protected]
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      7 months ago

      Yes and no, in that order, I believe.

      As expected, though, she (illegally) had a gun in the classroom with her, per the same article. And a second one in her car, which should also be illegal as it was parked on school property, explaining the two charges of carrying a gun onto school property.

    • @WoahWoah
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      7 months ago

      Kids get killed by guns regardless. That’s kind of how this all ends, no? Or did “dying from being shot” stop being the #1 cause of death for children under 18?

      This is just so insane and disgusting. I don’t even know what to say.

      • Cethin
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        27 months ago

        I believe it’s clearly implied they meant they will be killed by the effects of this bill, not regardless. Generally, when having a discussion, the context of what is being discussed is important to the conversation and usually random things aren’t being referred to for no reason.

        • @WoahWoah
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          7 months ago

          I was just referencing that gun culture in the united states is horrible and impacts children severely, so putting guns in schools is even worse.

  • MushuChupacabra
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    7 months ago

    Thankfully, teachers are extremely well paid in Tennessee, so disgruntled employee with a gun scenarios will be virtually unheard of.

    • @[email protected]
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      27 months ago

      Also, this is Tennessee, so we know they will already have their own guns. It’s not as if we’re trying to demand each teacher have a full set of teeth.

    • @andros_rex
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      17 months ago

      Gotta wonder if they’re getting a hazard pay bonus…

    • @[email protected]
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      47 months ago

      ::Johnny Carson holds sealed envelope to his forehead::

      Black student dead after entering classroom because teacher feared for their life and shot him. All charges dropped due to stand your ground laws.

    • @afraid_of_zombies
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      17 months ago

      Good luck. They will just pass a rule saying you can’t sue a school for that.

      • @[email protected]
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        37 months ago

        They don’t care about public schools. Now sue a private school, and you might see something happen.

    • Flying Squid
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      27 months ago

      They’re only pro life if it’s a healthy fetus and only until it stops being a fetus.

      • @[email protected]
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        27 months ago

        Not even a healthy fetus… they cover conception to ejection, after that you’re on your own!

  • @whotookkarl
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    237 months ago

    Wrong solution to a problem they’ve created

    • @T00l_shed
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      107 months ago

      What, you mean to say that introducing MORE guns won’t solve a problem with the extant amount of guns going around?

      • @[email protected]
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        47 months ago

        That’s exactly what we’re saying, you’ve got to escalate properly. I suggest rocket launchers, a super shotgun, and a BFG9000. Didn’t forget to set the classroom to ultra violence.

        • @T00l_shed
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          47 months ago

          The only thing that will stop a bad guy with a BFG9000 is a teacher with a BFG9000.

  • @dephyre
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    147 months ago

    No Tennesseeans benefit from this. And I’m horrified to see the first fatality from a scared teacher who never should have been armed in the first place.

    will be allowed to carry handguns in their classrooms and in most campus situations without informing parents and most of their colleagues they’re armed

  • @LEDZeppelin
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    147 months ago

    So next time school sh ooting happens, repubes will turn around and blame teachers for not doing anything to stop it.

    • @T00l_shed
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      17 months ago

      And then defund the schools more.

  • terwn43lp
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    117 months ago

    healthcare? nah, more guns lol

  • @renrenPDX
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    117 months ago

    This is stupid. Just go full retard already and have machine gun sentries mounted to the ceiling. Problem(s) solved /s

    • @aceshigh
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      27 months ago

      Another option: kids are tech savvy, why not teach them to control killer drones. The teachers could be the backups.

  • @halferect
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    97 months ago

    People are gonna die because of this.

  • @p5yk0t1km1r4ge
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    97 months ago

    This is where we’re at now, America. Good job!

  • @[email protected]
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    87 months ago

    I’m surprised they didnt just go with an armed member of moms for liberty in every classroom.

    • BeardedSingleMalt
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      47 months ago

      That’s require those stay-at-home-moms to get up before 8am and refrain from day-drinking white wine

      • @afraid_of_zombies
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        17 months ago

        You have to get up before 8 am. School bus drivers, at least where I live, are not supposed to take kids unless they see an adult with them. Last time I took a sick day I remember feeling like death and still having to wait with my kids.

  • @TenderfootGungi
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    67 months ago

    Does this come with at least monthly firearm training so they can stay proficient?

    • @afraid_of_zombies
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      37 months ago

      If it comes with even a mandatory safety class on how not to accidentally shot yourself I will be shocked