After the horrific school shooting at Covenant Elementary that killed six people including three children, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee plans on pushing forward with a proposal to put armed guards in every school.
From Just The News:
While it still needs legislative approval, Lee’s plan would expand a proposal to station armed guards at all public schools in Tennessee and give grant funding to allow private schools to also hire armed guards, The Tennessean reported Friday. The state cannot require private schools to hire armed guards, but it can require the guards hired by private schools to have the same level of training as those in public schools.
That means the new plan could apply to Covenant School, a private Presbyterian school where 28-year-old Audrey Halekilled three nine-year-olds and three staffers in their 60s last week.
The plan would also ask for more mental health support in schools.
“Mental health concerns are something that we have to continue to invest in,” Lee said. “There will be conversations across the board about mental health for students and mental health in general. And support for those who need help, and who do in fact become a threat to themselves or others.”
“Most practical, thoughtful people believe that individuals who are a threat to themselves or to others shouldn’t have access to weapons. … In my view, that’s a practical, thoughtful approach,” Lee says.
“There’s a balance between protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens and protecting the public from those who intend harm,” he said. “That’s going to be the way I look at every piece of legislation and every new proposal going forward.”
Lee shared a video message last week on Twitter:
What happened at The Covenant School yesterday was a tragedy beyond comprehension. I want to speak directly to Tennesseans about the way forward. pic.twitter.com/3poMgYgxeq
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) March 28, 2023
Thank you for visiting