Gun safety advocates gather in the Senate gallery, April 9, 2024
The state Senate gallery erupted into chaos Tuesday during discussion of a bill that would allow some school staff to carry concealed handguns on school property. Per an amendment adopted by the Senate, these staff members would also need to receive training in school policing, get permission from their principal, director of schools and local law enforcement chief, and provide the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation with fingerprints for background checks, among other measures.
The gallery was filled with gun safety advocates who carried signs and jeered Senate members throughout the proceedings. Spectators remained vocal after receiving a warning from Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge). He then gave the order to clear the gallery.
Some protesters resisted the directive to leave for approximately 30 minutes, speaking to lawmakers from the balcony and holding signs. Some were approached by state troopers before ultimately agreeing to leave the chamber.
“It is really hard, even as a new mom standing here, to have to be composed on a piece of legislation that I know puts my son’s life at risk,” said Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) from the Senate floor while holding her child.
Among the crowd were several parents from the Covenant School community, which experienced a mass shooting in March of last year that left three 9-year-old students and three staff members dead. Those parents could be seen pleading with McNally from the balcony to not be removed with the rest of the crowd. They were allowed to stay.
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“We’re very disappointed at how things went today,” Covenant mother Mary Joyce told reporters after the incident. “We can absolutely do way better. Sorry, we’re just really shaken-up, because that was rattling to say the least.”
Both Joyce and fellow Covenant mother Melissa Alexander told reporters they were shaking as the scene played out.
“I think the consideration of a real-world scenario — especially a teacher with a handgun leaving a classroom full of children to go and protect them from a shooter who most likely has a bigger weapon — is irresponsible to say the least,” said Joyce. “Then you have an entire classroom full of children that are now exposed and in danger.”
Spectators who were removed from the gallery continued to watch the proceedings on screen from the lobby of the Capitol. The bill passed in the Senate and is scheduled to be heard in the House on April 17. Alexander said she and her fellow advocates will continue to work with lawmakers on the bill before it reaches a House vote.
