The Tennessee Senate passes the bill that would arm teachers with concealed guns in schools. It passed yesterday (Tuesday) on the Senate floor with 26 votes for and five votes against. The bill does not require but would allow people who work at schools to carry concealed guns on school property. Teachers who decide to carry would have to undergo 40 hours of annual gun training at their own expense, in addition to receiving approval from the school director, passing a mental health evaluation, and passing an FBI background check. Democrats suggest that would pose a liability. The bill will now go to the House, where it has been placed on the regular calendar for April 17. If it passes, it will become law once the governor either signs it or allows it to go into law without his signature.
Tennessee’s Senate has also unanimously signed off on legislation requiring minors to have parental consent to create social media accounts. The Tennessee Senate approved its version without debate, though lawmakers tacked on a last-minute addition to clarify the bill only applied to social media websites. That means the House chamber must approve those changes before it can go to Governor Bill Lee’s desk for his approval. However, Tennessee lawmakers are hoping to require social media companies to provide parents with options to view privacy settings, set daily time restrictions and implement mandatory breaks. If enacted, the attorney general would be permitted to investigate and sue a social media platform for possible violations.
