Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee signed legislation on Friday allowing teachers and school staff in the state to carry concealed handguns on school property.
The legislation, aimed at improving school safety, comes about a year after a mass shooting that killed three children and three adults at The Covenant School in Nashville. The governor announced his support for the legislation at a press conference the day before signing it.
“I think we need to be really clear about what this does – districts have the right to choose,” Lee said, according to WSMV. “What’s important to me is that we give districts tools and the option to use the tool that will keep their children safe in their schools.”
The law creates a process of approvals and training for educators and other school staff to qualify to conceal carry a gun on campus.
The school superintendent, principal, and chief…
