Kamala Harris criticizes Tennessee Republicans over bill to arm select teachers

Vice President Kamala Harris attacked Tennessee Republicans on Wednesday, calling them “extremists” for passing a bill that allows public school teachers to be armed in classrooms after meeting certain conditions, such as firearm training and approval from administrators.

Harris, who visited the Volunteer State last year to push for gun control, called for lawmakers to pass an “assault weapons ban” and “red flag laws.”

“Arming teachers is not the solution,” Harris posted on X. “We know what actually works: universal background checks, red flag laws, safe storage, and an assault weapons ban. Shame on extremists in the Tennessee legislature for failing to protect our children.”

Arming teachers is not the solution.

We know what actually works: universal background checks, red flag laws, safe storage, and an assault weapons ban.

Shame on extremists in the Tennessee legislature for failing to protect our children.https://t.co/vqpbfmkAC0

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 25, 2024

The Republican-backed bill passed the Tennessee House 68-28 on Tuesday amid raucous protests at the Capitol building in Nashville after previously passing the Senate 27-5. The bill now heads to Republican Governor Bill Lee’s desk where he has 10 days to either sign or veto the message before it would automatically become law.

If signed, the measure would authorize school faculty and staff to carry a concealed handgun if they possess an enhanced carry license, pass a background check, obtain certification by a healthcare professional as mentally sound, and complete 40 hours of training. The local school board and the school’s principal would also have to authorize teachers who request to be armed.

Advocates of the measure say that it will help to protect schools, especially in rural areas that might not be able to afford full-time security on campus.

“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. “Requires 40 hours of tactical training, mental health check, and enhanced carry permit, to name a few.”

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“TN teachers in distressed counties have been able to carry since 2016 without incident. We will take every step necessary to protect children in rural communities,” he added. “Please focus on the significant national challenges like open borders, crushing inflation, rising energy costs and failed foreign policy. We’ll handle TN.”

In April 2023, Harris met with two Tennessee Democrats, Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, after the leftist lawmakers were expelled from the chamber after disrupting a floor session by sneaking a bullhorn onto the House floor and leading a gun control protest with protesters chanting from the chamber’s balcony gallery.

The protest came after a transgender-identifying shooter murdered six people, including three children, at a Christian school in Nashville.

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