Legislation gives highly-trained school staff option to carry concealed firearm

Legislation gives highly-trained school staff option to carry a concealed firearm to protect school

The Senate passed legislation I sponsored to give approved teachers with specialty training more tools to protect themselves and their students from an active shooter. Senate Bill 1325 allows authorized, full-time school faculty and staff to carry a concealed weapon on campus if certain strict requirements are met.

A faculty or staff member who qualifies to carry a concealed firearm at school must be approved by three different authorities: the principal, the director of schools, and the chief of the local law enforcement agency. If approved, that faculty or staff member must train alongside local law enforcement to complete at least 40 hours of POST-certified, hands-on training specific to school policing every year. In addition, the trained staff must pass a psychological evaluation, background check, and possess a valid Tennessee handgun carry permit.

Due to a shortage of law enforcement officers, we have over 500 schools in Tennessee without a school resource officer, despite available funding. This leaves schools vulnerable to deadly attacks, particularly in rural communities where it might take law enforcement 15 to 30 minutes to respond to an active shooter.

In the Nashville Covenant School shooting, law enforcement’s rapid response saved lives. In many rural communities, that type of rapid response from law enforcement is simply not possible. This legislation seeks to close that gap by providing a pathway for qualified school staff to carry a firearm to defend their school if necessary.

The legislation is permissive, meaning it is up to each school to determine if it wants to allow faculty or staff to carry a weapon.

Senate Bill 1325 now moves to Governor Lee for his signature before becoming law.

Increasing availability of SROs – To continue to help address the shortage of eligible law enforcement officers to fill school resource officer positions, I am also sponsoring legislation that would provide more schools with equipped officers.

Senate Bill 2901 would allow a retired law enforcement officer who is a member of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) or local retirement fund to be reemployed as a full-time SRO at a Tennessee public school without loss or suspension of the officer’s retirement benefits. This legislation passed the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee and is headed to a vote by the full Senate next week.

Increasing penalties for threats of violence on school property – Another bill passed the Senate this week to strengthen the punishment for threatening to commit mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity in Tennessee.

The measure would increase the crime from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The legislation includes an exception for individuals with an intellectual disability. The bill now awaits the Governor’s signature. If signed by the Governor, the new law would take effect July 1, 2024.

Senator Bailey may be contacted at (615) 741-3978 or sen.paul.bailey@capitol.tn.gov.