Tennessee lawmakers passed a measure Tuesday that would allow school employees to carry concealed handguns on school grounds, sending the bill to the governor a year later. the shooter opened fire and killed six people at the Nashville School.
Tennessee House Bill a 68-28 vote. The state Senate, also controlled by the GOP, passed the event earlier this month.
Republican state Rep. Ryan Williams said Tuesday that the bill would strengthen school security.
“I believe this is one way we can do it, because what you’re doing is you’re creating a deterrent,” he said.
Under the law, teachers and staff members who want to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds must complete a minimum of 40 hours of approved school police training each year.
“Blood on your hands” chants were heard from protesters in the gallery on Tuesday during the vote.
Democratic state Rep. Bo Mitchell withdrew the measure, citing last year’s shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, which killed three children and three adults.
“That’s what we’re going to do. That’s our reaction to teachers and kids being killed at school, our reaction is to throw more guns at him. What’s wrong with us?” Mitchell said on the House floor.
Sen. Paul Bailey, the Republican who sponsored the bill in the upper chamber, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
A spokesman for Republican Gov. Bill Lee did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether he plans to sign the measure. He can either sign the bill or allow it to become law without his signature. Lee has not vetoed any legislation as governor.