Kamala Harris Slams Tennessee GOP Over Passage of Bill Allowing Select Teachers to Carry Guns. Vice President Kamala Harris has criticized Tennessee Republicans for passing a bill that allows public school teachers to be armed in classrooms, calling them “extremists” and advocating for stricter gun control measures instead. The bill, which has been sent to Governor Bill Lee’s desk, would allow teachers to carry a concealed handgun if they meet certain conditions, such as firearm training and approval from administrators.
Harris argued that arming teachers is not the solution to protecting children and instead pushed for universal background checks, red flag laws, safe storage, and an assault weapons ban. She stated that these measures have been proven to be effective in preventing gun violence and keeping communities safe. However, Republican Rep. Jason Zachary responded to Harris, pointing out that the bill is permissive and requires teachers to undergo extensive training and background checks before being allowed to carry a weapon.
Zachary also noted that teachers in distressed counties in Tennessee have been able to carry weapons since 2016 without incident and emphasized the need to protect children in rural communities. He suggested that Harris focus on addressing national challenges such as open borders, inflation, energy costs, and foreign policy instead of interfering with Tennessee’s state laws.
The debate around gun control and school safety has been ongoing since a tragic shooting at a Christian school in Nashville in April 2023. Harris had met with two Tennessee Democrats, Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, after they were expelled from the chamber for disrupting a floor session with a gun control protest. The protest came after a transgender-identifying shooter murdered six people, including three children, at the school.
The shooting sparked a wave of outrage and calls for stricter gun control measures, with many arguing that allowing teachers to carry weapons is not a sufficient solution to preventing such tragedies. Harris’s criticism of the Tennessee bill is part of a larger national conversation around gun control and school safety, with many Democrats pushing for stricter measures to prevent gun violence.
“Have you read the bill, Madam Vice President? It is permissive, allowing a teacher to carry with the approval of the principal, sheriff, and head of school,” Rep Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) replied to Harris on X.
However, Republicans have argued that such measures infringe on Second Amendment rights and that arming teachers is a necessary measure to protect children in the event of a school shooting. The debate has been highly polarized, with both sides accusing each other of being “extremists” and failing to prioritize the safety of children.
Despite the disagreement, there is a growing consensus that something needs to be done to prevent gun violence in schools. The question is what measures are most effective in achieving this goal. While Harris and other Democrats argue that stricter gun control measures are the answer, Republicans like Zachary believe that arming teachers is a necessary step to protect children.
The Tennessee bill has sparked a national conversation around this issue, with many states considering similar measures. As the debate continues, it is clear that finding a solution to prevent gun violence in schools will require a nuanced and multifaceted approach that takes into account the complex issues at play.
