Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has announced a bold plan to put an armed guard at every school in Tennessee, both public and private, in response to the horrific shooting at Covenant School in Nashville that claimed the lives of three children and three adults. The governor, who is a staunch defender of the Second Amendment and a friend of two of the victims, said he is determined to protect the students and staff from any future attacks.
The plan, which requires legislative approval, would expand an existing proposal to fund 200 school resource officers (SROs) for public schools and provide grant funding for private schools to hire their own guards with the same level of training. The state would also increase funding for school security upgrades and mental health support through school-based behavioral health liaisons.
The governor’s initiative comes as thousands of protesters have gathered at the State Capitol to demand stricter gun control measures, such as universal background checks, red flag laws, and bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Some of them have compared the Nashville shooting to the Jan. 6 protest at the U.S. Capitol, which is a gross exaggeration and an insult to the law enforcement officers who risked their lives that day.
The governor has said he is open to some gun reform measures, but he has also made it clear that he will not infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens who own firearms for self-defense, hunting, or recreation.
The governor’s plan is a sensible and pragmatic approach to address the root causes of school violence, such as mental health issues, security gaps, and lack of deterrence. It is also consistent with the wishes of most parents, who feel safer with armed security at schools, according to polls. The governor deserves praise for his leadership and courage in standing up to the radical anti-gun lobby that wants to exploit this tragedy for political gain.
I fully support Governor Lee’s plan and urge our lawmakers to pass it as soon as possible. It’s time to stop playing politics with our safety and start taking action to prevent another school shooting from happening again.
Leave a Comment