Tennessee educators might soon be carrying guns alongside textbooks if Gov. Bill Lee signs a controversial bill allowing teachers to have firearms in schools. The bill, known as HB 1202/SB 1325, has advanced to the governor’s desk, sparking heated debates across the state from classroom corners to the Capitol steps. It narrowly passed the Tennessee House yesterday with a vote of 68-28, as reported by NewsChannel5.

Under the proposed law, which has been met with strong opposition from some quarters, teachers opting to carry would need to complete a stringent 40-hour training course and a background check. Metro Nashville Public Schools made it clear it won't budge on its gun-free school policy, irrespective of the bill's fate. "We have a strong relationship with the Metro Nashville Police Department and agree that it is safest for only approved active-duty law enforcement officers to carry weapons on campus," MNPS spokesman Sean Braisted stated in a declaration obtained by WSMV. This sentiment echoes throughout several other districts, all deploying a wait-and-see strategy until further state guidance is provided.

Passage of the bill did not come quietly; it ignited protests at the Tennessee Capitol where demonstrators chanted "vote them out," targeting lawmakers who favored the legislation, as captured by WSMV. The friction reflects a wider national contention about the role of firearms in American schools.

While Nashville adopts a staunch stance on the issue, districts like Coffee County Schools haven't laid out plans to implement the new arming option. "There are not any plans to move forward with this MOU option at this time in Coffee County Schools," was the statement given to WKRN. Meanwhile, districts such as Rutherford Co. and Clarksville-Montgomery Co. are on the fence, deferring any policy shifts until post-signing procedures are clarified. Their measured approach reveals a hesitancy, perhaps a sign of a grappling with the gravity what arming educators entails.