As lawmaker suggests arming teachers, Tennessee education commissioner will not give position on issue

Natalie Allison | The Tennessean

Ahead of the 2020 legislative session, at least one lawmaker is already expressing interest in allowing teachers to carry guns in schools.

It's a measure some Republican lawmakers have pushed unsuccessfully in recent years, and one that Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn on Monday declined to give a position on.

"I'm not in a place to comment on that at this time," Schwinn said after a House budget hearing when asked whether she supported the notion of arming public school teachers. "We're focusing on the budget hearing."

The topic was raised during the budget hearing as legislators and Schwinn discussed an ongoing statewide school safety initiative. In the current year's budget, $20 million has been allocated for schools to apply for grants to improve safety measures, including hiring school resources officers, purchasing surveillance equipment and other uses.

Schwinn said that school districts have begun applying for the grants, and $7.2 million of that pot of money has been awarded so far.

Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, advocated for allowing teachers and coaches in K-12 schools to be allowed to carry guns as a safety measure.

"This is not a foreign idea," Holt said. "This is not a new idea."

Holt suggested posting an "abundance of signs" around schools announcing that students are being protected by staff members carrying firearms.

"I would definitely say it's time for us to look at that, especially in view of how much school safety is costing."

Bill allowing teachers to carry guns withdrawn this year

The cost associated with placing SROs in schools around the state was a point of contention at times during committee meetings this session on the legislation that is funding the project. The bill was part of Gov. Bill Lee's legislative agenda and was carried by freshman Rep. Brandon Ogles, R-Franklin.

Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, introduced a bill this past session to allow teachers to carry firearms in schools, but withdrew the bill after it made its way out of an education subcommittee.

After receiving pushback and concerns from law enforcement leaders about the need for proper training for teachers, Williams said at the time that he would consider bringing back the bill the following year.

Schwinn said she didn't immediately know what the Department of Education's position was on the bill. A spokesman for the department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the department's position on the issue.

Lee has previously said he was not opposed to arming teachers, though the governor did not push for such a measure as part of his school safety initiative this year.

Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at @natalie_allison.

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