'A confederacy of dunces!': Mom blasts TN GOP for advancing bill to arm teachers

MSNBC's Katie Phang speaks with Beth Gebhard, a Nashville mom whose kids survived the 2023 Covenant School shooting, and Tennessee Democratic State Representative Justin J. Pearson about Tennessee Senate Republicans advancing a bill that would allow some teachers to carry concealed guns.
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#MSNBC #Tennessee #Republicans

[@walstib57]

Teachers are buying pencils and paper for their students because the state can't afford it, but all of a sudden they've got money for glocks for every teacher from Memphis to Bristol?!

[@twilliams2433]

NRA gets a cut

[@liamawry5081]

Hey, ask Ms Greene aka the green goblin, from Georgia I’m sure she’ll promise to look into the funding problems that may arise.

[@SandraWade666]

The NRA who funds these Republicans will give em a discount

[@zakglove6536]

They aren't talking about buying them for teachers. Lots of teachers own their own just like lots of Americans do. The one thing every person that is against g_ns has in common is that they don't own one and have never even shot one. The ironic thing is is that generally the people that are against them are the one who are the least capable of defending themselves and would benefit the most from owning one. Which just goes to show how logical these people are. Why don't we just ban all metal because metal is responsible for nearly all accidental and intentional deaths in the world.

[@wesleyc.4937]

They didn't stop at abortion, did they...

[@AuAu1212]

No they didn’t😂 Great job republicans! Long live the GOP.🇺🇸

[@tami4951]

Nope. And they want "cousin humping" to be legal too.

[@debrajonet1497]

If they win the majority and the Presidency there will be no limits on what they do with our rights. Church and State are supposed to be separate. Look what happened in the past when the Church was involved in government.

[@rickbrown8155]

Abortion after birth is school shootings.....

[@DAVIDMAINORD]

NO

[@mindyrosin]

If these moms showed up to have "dangerous" books removed, they wouldbe been ushered in. 🙄 Disgusting 😡

[@tja3495]

100% TRUE!

[@debrajonet1497]

The book business needs to stop! Again taking We the People back in time. Children need to learn History and some adults as well. They need to know the truth so it doesn't repeat it self. Books are knowledge and should be treated with respect.

[@tja3495]

@@debrajonet1497 Knowledge is Power, that is why They Burn Books.

[@mytruecrimelibrary]

​@@tja3495 "Where one burns books, one will soon burn people." Heinrich Heine

[@zakglove6536]

They weren't actually removed they chose to leave this report is inaccurate.

[@barryb83110]

You demand teachers teach, parent, shape behavior, counsel, coach, discipline, and now gunfight?

[@reason6835]

Nobody is demanding it. They want to ALLOW teachers who want to be armed to do so.

[@lisaortiz635]

@barryb83110 Don’t forget all those important, difficult jobs + gunfighter for minimal pay.

[@michellem-s1108]

@@reason6835 yeah, and they will leave them in the bathroom or a drawer unlocked, keys stolen, a sole 2nd grade teacher will have a better outcome than all those officers at Uvalde?

[@michellem-s1108]

@@reason6835 yeah, and they will leave them in the bathroom or a drawer unlocked, keys stolen, a sole 2nd grade teacher will have a better outcome than all those officers at Uvalde?

[@paularroyo3450]

With horrible pay.

[@kookootrix1978]

Imagine, the GOP call themselves "Pro-life" 🙄 🌊💙🌊🇺🇸🗳🗽

[@CBlargh]

Look at all the Republicans in the back staring at their phones, pretending they can't hear. Disgraceful.

[@rbmindful]

We need to think a few steps ahead with these things. What I envision are scenarios like, what happens when a larger, stronger boy decides he wants that teacher's gun? What happens when a teacher takes the gun off to do something like, go to the bathroom? What about accidental discharges? They happen frequently. How many teachers will decide that this a good way to intimidate students, parents and fellow staff?

[@badlyniceness2315]

Stop electing your own enemies. 3:43

[@marcosjuarez7809]

It’s those pathetic MAGA Republicans because you’re looking at them.

[@Forever.and.a.day.singing]

A few of them could very well have been pretending that they didn't know what was going on but more than likely the majority were just genuinely embarrassed for her. I've been living in Texas now a couple years and the people here are pretty unshaken and are very sure of themselves on guns.

[@emsleywyatt3400]

It is truly contemptuous that they don't even _pretend_ to care.

[@geraldmiller5260]

How will armed responders be able to tell an armed teacher from an adult perp?

[@reason6835]

That’s what the training is for.

[@pcoleman1971]

@@reason6835 How do you train for that?

[@CBlargh]

They won't. _That's the point._

[@reason6835]

@@pcoleman1971: You are trained to be aware of police arriving on scene and dropping your weapon when you see them. And police are trained to be aware of armed citizens on the scene and not shooting them unless they’re a threat.

[@lovidas6297]

@@reason6835 teachers want to teach, not become law enforcers.

[@edsullivan7288]

My child would not attend a school with firearms in it, period

[@AngelaShawWestoven]

I've been homeschooling for 9 years now. Hard but worth it.

[@anothercitizen4867]

That’s what the Rethuglican Party wants. Then they can say that public schools are no longer necessary. They want privatization of schools or home schooling

[@andrewstevenson118]

@@AngelaShawWestoven Never had kids, but I can see the appeal of homeschooling. Especially if you add in the networks of other families for socialising.

[@ytzpilot]

I live in a country where our police don’t even carry a gun

[@jimdavison4077]

Home schooling is a joke. The results can be great if the people teaching are truely qualified but most are not.

[@taylowendy]

I’m a school district employee. This is outrageous! Bring guns into the classroom. What happens when a toddler gets their hands on a gun left on the teacher’s desk? What happens when a teacher has to help calm a special needs student who is having a difficult time in class and the student grabs the gun while the teacher is trying to restrain the student? I’m sorry but teachers DON’T GET PAID ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH GUNS IN THE CLASSROOM. Politicians expect teachers to teach with no books, less pay, babysit nasty parents, and guns in the classroom. If they keep this up we won’t have any teachers. Those politicians will have to teach their own children from home.

[@rcpilot179]

What are teachers supposed to do when 370 cops stand around, cowardly, doing nothing for over an hour? To afraid to confront a person who has the same rifle as them. Do they suggest that teachers get bigger, better rifles?

[@xstreamoneya]

I believe not too far in the future that teachers will be replaced with AI possibly robots. They will have all the answers like a computer and they would also be bulletproof. They could easily handle the children better. I think most jobs are going to be taken by robots.

[@trickmuffinful]

Sweetheart, you're being hysterical. Have yourself a wine spritzer or whatever and calm your butt down. It's not every teacher needs to carry, only the teachers that volunteer to protect their students with their life and that want to have a firearm to protect those lives from the deranged.

[@dark14life]

@@rcpilot179 nothing. Police departments are supposed to train their cops better. Not expect teachers to do their jobs for them. What is going through your brain when you say stuff like that?!?

[@trickmuffinful]

@@dark14life why does the shooter get to have a rifle and bullets and everybody else in the school has to be disarmed? What's going through your brain in that logic? Why does a disarmed school have to deal with a school shooter until the cops show up? What's going through your noggin?

[@spacelemur7955]

I am so glad Tennessee elected the two Justins. Without their determined voices, we wouldn't know what's happening there.

[@carissahowell]

The Tennessee GOP doesn't want to represent their constituents. They want to rule. Do as they say and shut up. They know better. They will tell you what's best for you and your family, not you telling them what is best for you and your family.

[@babyteano1977]

More sales for the NRA

[@knowbody5292]

💯

[@jmb3608]

Exactly. And follow the money: their constituents are dispensable and expendable, their donors are not.

[@TomMcBoston]

Same applies to progressive Democrats.

[@jmb3608]

@@TomMcBoston Who and what are you precisely referring to? Because making broad statements like this one...

[@marcdunegan5749]

It requires constant training to be able to react appropriately in these situations. This is obviously a bill for the gun lobby.

[@zakglove6536]

Not if they're in a defensive position. Otherwise people everyday wouldn't be defending their homes successfully. I mean if the teacher wants to pursue the perp then thats fine but most are gonna hide and wait being that last line of defense.

[@anthonymatthews3698]

Imagine armed teachers. Unreal. The USA is terminally ill.

[@androsc1418]

Any worse than those enabling gender manipulation of children without the parents’ knowledge?

[@wtfisthishandlebulIshit]

​@@androsc1418Yes, because whatever you're talking about doesn't exist.

[@Upper-cr1kh]

Democrats only want criminals to have guns. Talk about no common sense

[@wtfisthishandlebulIshit]

​@@Upper-cr1kh Where do you get your information?

[@androsc1418]

Cant reply because many of our comments got deleted. 🤣😂🤣

[@danpowell3953]

Are the politicians trying to get more guns into school the same ones who think books are dangerous?

[@tja3495]

They Burn Books.

[@josephc28]

I think it's rather interesting, that these same politicians don't want guns in their place of work. Guns aren't allowed inside the state Capitol or in courthouses.

[@Authenticallyathena]

​@josephc28 As a federal employee, you are absolutely right, they do not play with that anywhere near our buildings.

[@elendilnz]

Bravo, Ms Lamar! Big hugs, lots of love. We see you, and the other Moms, we love you. From New Zealand ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@andrewstevenson118]

Ditto from Onehunga, Auckland

[@nura1627]

Senator Lamar is remarkable.

[@babyteano1977]

Republicans don't want the kids to learn because with knowledge these students will be future democrat voters

[@tja3495]

👍 💯 Trump's Republican Fascist Party agenda is CONTROL, OPPRESSION, and POWER.....They Burn Books.

[@RupertLaLageIV]

Exactly. Republican legislators, who dictate to the schools, are intent on dumbing students down. They have been forcing educators to TEACH TO THE TEST--the be-all and end-all of modern education. Low test scores lead to school closures and the rise of Republican sanctioned, tuition-based, and profitable charter schools. Banning books--including dictionaries and texts (the latter, if to be had, are being rewritten to MAGA standards)--and limiting subjects such as history and geography to one or two paragraph handouts for major topics such as WWII, as well as abandoning civics and government classes are strategies to ensure an ignorant populace. Business and secretarial skills, home economics, shop classes for automotive, construction, etc.--anything to prepare the student for work, once graduated from either high school or college (if so lucky as to be saddled with debt), are steadily being removed from our schools. Low wage, dead-end jobs await those without certain skills; the prison economies of red states await those who resort to crime, versus those who enter the military to merely exist. An educated population is a threat to businesses and corporations BRIBING these Republican legislators, and their subsequent power and greed stems from this taint.

[@davespruce4362]

Absolutely...

[@bigtime9589]

Say the person who use's no punctuation in a sentence.

[@borano2031]

"I love the poorly educated" D. Trump Rgr

[@seanc1898]

Just another day in the US of A!

[@kaysera6566]

We had a scare at our high school 2 weeks ago, I saw the threatening text message, the student was going to target special education students and 2 teachers in particular. The fear that gripped me was real. Us teachers were told not to say anything to the students until it was confirmed to be a real threat....fear paralyzed us to the point that we let them work on missing assignments. More guns is not the answer because fear will make you act before you think.

[@liamawry5081]

Yes, if you follow all the stories involving gun shootings you will find 90% happen because there is one or more guns present in a persons purse or pocket,under a car seat . By removing guns all together people just might shut up and keep walking.

[@italex827]

I live in Tennessee. Who's gonna stop troublemakers from going crazy? Knowing how stupid most people are here, they'll put it somewhere a student can easily acess it.

[@reason6835]

It’s kept concealed on their body. Geezus.

[@ericplumhoff9208]

@@reason6835 If you must be ignorant , be quiet .

[@user-ii7dd5sk9g]

This makes me wanna cry

[@diegojines-us9pc]

just think of the first law suit when a kid gets hurt.

[@jameshopkins6853]

I am so glad I don't live in a backwards state like that. I grew up in Missouri, so glad I left 37 years ago and moved to the Pacific Northwest.

[@ryshow9118]

They're working on it. Change takes time. There's plenty of GQP folks in your neck of the woods as well. I moved from NYC to FL nearly 25 years ago now and I have seen a shift in ideology even here in Tallahassee. If we don't believe change is possible then we have no reason to strive for it.

[@davespruce4362]

I'm so glad I don't live in a medieval country 😮

[@ljre3397]

Well while you’re at it give the kids guns too. How stupid.

[@lutgardogomez1548]

The TN GOP wants to bring back the "WILD WILD WEST " in schools??? SHAMELESS and DISGUSTING MAGA REPÚBLICANS!!! VOTE THEM OUT to MAKE THE COUNTRY BETTER!!!

[@nura1627]

Don't give them ideas. I'm not confident these fools would recognize either satire or a bad idea when they see it.

[@zakglove6536]

Yeah it's crazy for a teacher to take a defensive position and if the perp enters that class room for that teacher to have a better chance than the attacker. Totally a bad idea the teacher should have a 0% chance as the last line of defense.

[@waynehersel3965]

If this bill passes, I'm certain that the only thing that arming teachers will accomplish is to make sure that there are fewer kids in Tennessee clsssrooms. It'll definitely bring the student-teacher ratio down.

[@whyamihereweirdo9912]

They are doing the same thing here in Utah.. Horrifying 😱😱

[@nataliehatcher4343]

How is it legal to remove the public from public forums?

[@tja3495]

Republican Governor Bill Lee. Trump's Republican Fascist Party agenda is CONTROL, OPPRESSION, and POWER.

[@WatchKrystalTV]

Now we watch as all the teachers leave Tennessee.

[@josephc28]

Many have already quit and were leaving before this ridiculous bill was introduced in the state legislature. This will make it worse. They already don't pay teachers enough, and the working conditions are not the best.

[@KateWitt]

This mom's explanation of how the teacher kept her students quiet and alive. This should be required listening for every politician who thinks that teachers should be armed.

[@johngogolen89]

she just got lucky

[@zakglove6536]

If she was armed she could of ended the threat right there with the perps back to her. Without any other lives being lost. So yeah I agree I think everyone should hear how she could of saved lives that day.

[@ripadipaflipa4672]

A wonderful woman and mother who knows how crazy it would be to go back to “ the good old days” when she would not be able to vote and instead of standing up for all of our children would most likely put her in jail. Right make America “great” again. As a ER healthcare provider I realized one of the other MD’s had a loaded gun with him in a fl hospital which completely freaked me out. When I was working in MN any cop with a gun would give us to lock up while in the hospital

[@zebrazagadore4827]

Katie Phang is a great interviewer and communicator.

[@Corsuwey]

Being a teacher can be extremely stressful. Now image an extremely stressed teacher who is allowed to have a gun.

[@josephc28]

Teachers already have enough on their plate to deal with it as it is, and when you consider the fact they don't pay teachers enough, especially in Tennessee, I can't even see why they would want to put these cash-strapped school districts in a position where they may end up being sued and taken to the cleaners if something goes wrong involving the teacher's gun.

[@wesleywashington1251]

That angry mom doesn't realize the GOP wear white hoods after supper

[@tja3495]

White hoods over their Red Hats.

[@Hoser239]

@@tja3495 Yeah, you two are obviously the "educated" bunch, aren't you? Slept all the way through history class. If you can actually bring yourself to it, do just a little bit of research on the organization you're referring to. Then ask yourself, "Why was Joe Biden eulogizing his "good friend and mentor" Roert Byrd?" You people are DROWNING in Kool-aid.

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

Without hate and fear in your heart, the MAGA party can't control you.

[@REALTRUTH2525]

Your ignorance is unbelievable. Do your homework.

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

@@REALTRUTH2525 Don't worry, little buddy. With time and the truth, you'll see it, too. Good luck

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

@@REALTRUTH2525 MAGA advocates for discrimination and hate. (What that guy with the funny moustache fought for) Want to try again, little buddy.

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

@@REALTRUTH2525 Denial and transposing are virtues of all MAGA cultists

[@REALTRUTH2525]

@@michaelccopelandsr7120 You are so full of yourself. Ignorance seems to be Democrat's only trait.

[@makalipo]

It’s up to the people of Tennessee to be good, responsible citizens & vote these vile Republicans out of office.

[@shawnsimmons1308]

I live in a suburb outside of Memphis. There are only four areas in Tennessee that have a Democratic majority, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga. The Republicans have gerrymandered those counties and merged them into the voting blocs of neighboring rural deep red counties that the votes in those Democratically majority metropolitan counties are dramatically diluted that our votes have little to no impact in elections. In 2018, 2020, and 2022 the voter turnout in those Democratically majority counties was higher than it had ever been. So we’re obviously putting in an unprecedented effort to turn our state into one that we are proud to call home. But even after all the monumental efforts we’ve put into making our votes make a meaningful difference, the gerrymandering is so profound that it feels like we’re all just beating ourselves against a brick wall. We need the federal government to step up and pass legislation that would put a stop to partisan gerrymandering if we’re ever going to get a chance to vote on a level playing field.

[@ziziroberts8041]

Frightening.

[@lasandralucas7314]

Bad move as usual, Tennessee😡😠🤬

[@nura1627]

*Tennessee GOP. Gotta name the bad actors. Repetition.

[@melanatedone4894]

Vote Blue come November end the Madness

[@kevinp7056]

I still remember my childhood teachers: The two or three I couldn't have snatched a sidearm from as a young teen were people who were too spooky to be trusted with weapons in a classroom.. just a thought

[@HelHathNoFury1111]

"A confederacy of dunces" is an excellent description of the entire GOP. I feel for these parents. Rep Pearson is a star.

[@emilypenfield5075]

Justin Pearson is awesome!!!!! So articulate, so knowledgable. He is what our elected officials should be .

[@hapennysparrow]

A Confederacy of Dunces. A great book and such a good reference. Dunces indeed.

[@FranklinWilson-ev9dq]

That's Not Going To End, Well!!!!!!!!!

[@ryshow9118]

Senator Lamar's entire speech about sb 1325 was absolutely incredible. If you've got the time, search it up and watch it in its entirety. She's not there as a legislator but as a mother and a community member. I appreciate her passion and hope for the day that we don't have to watch these kinds of speeches anymore because common sense has taken hold.

[@mindyrosin]

I want to see the TN legislature on TV every day so they're exposed for their undemocratic and insensitive behavior. From what I've seen I am shocked that this is how they treat people. They don't even hide it. So offensive. 😤🤬

[@dctrevett]

TN needs to be boycotted until they get rid of these insane politicians.

[@dplj4428]

Let’s not forget that some teachers might pose a threat to other teachers and students. They are after all humans facing the same stressors as their students. Please be more thoughtful. What if a teacher gets fired and they have a gun on premise? What if there’s a teacher. Who there is pushing this?

[@reason6835]

Do you really think that any negative incidents due to teachers being allowed to arm themselves, would be WORSE than the number of students currently being shot at school?

[@nura1627]

TN GOP, thoughtful? They're likely to take it as an insult if you call them that to their face.

[@arthurdowney2846]

"Tennessee has made me lose my rest..."

[@BrattyBetty]

According to one scholar’s research on democracy in the US, Tennessee is indeed the least democratic state in the entire country.Tennessee’s low score in 2018 has a lot to do with its egregious partisan gerrymanders at both the state and federal level - a problem that only got worse in the post-2020 census redistricting cycle. Research from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project shows that there is not a single competitive seat in the state senate - Democrats are so efficiently packed in a handful of strongly Democratic districts that Republicans have a near-guaranteed super-majority (over 80 percent of seats!) in the statehouse’s upper chamber. TN is part of a general trend where democracy has degraded in Republican-controlled states.

[@Upper-cr1kh]

Every state including blue states redraw their district lines. Also learn the meaning of democracy.

[@andrewstevenson118]

Yeah, America invented gerrymandering (or at least gave a name to it) and y'all have perfected it. "Hey, let's have politicians set our own electorate boundaries. What could possibly go wrong?"

[@ericplumhoff9208]

@@Upper-cr1kh His grasp of the meaning is spot on. You seem to have grasped nothing at all about everything. Educated in Tennessee were you?

[@Upper-cr1kh]

@@ericplumhoff9208 meaning of democracy allowing citizens to vote on matters. Another person who took the little yellow bus to school

[@nura1627]

​@@Upper-cr1kh Yeah, bet you become anti-semantic real quick whenever folks take Trump literally instead of figuratively.

[@themystic1938]

Tennessee Teacher: "Okay, kids, time to do your math exercises on your own, and quietly. I mean it (pulls out gun) Now! Do it now! Get those pencils moving!"

[@andrewstevenson118]

Darkly hilarious.

[@tonyscott6837]

It is concerning to consider the potential consequences of a school teacher losing their composure and the implications of arming them with firearms. The safety and well-being of students should always be the utmost priority, and it is understandable that parents would have reservations about such a measure.

[@french1956]

Anyone else had it with Southern politics?

[@calholyo]

America the great, what a joke?

[@lynnrunningdeer7364]

Just imagine what happens when some disgruntled teacher feels threatened. What could possibly go wrong😡?

[@marilyn8490]

I used to teach. Arming teachers is the dumbest idea ever.

[@troydanielboy]

Good for her for teaching her son so early how to fight with words. How to stand strong and confident before an audience. He was so intense watching her and listening.

[@knowbody5292]

People understandably get hung up on single issues that are important to them and try to change bad outcomes for that situation. I think there would be a much better chance of progress if the people realized that they have rulers, not representatives, and fight the utter disdain the overprivileged fascists controlling their government have for them. If these parents get the outcome they want on this particular bill it will do nothing to stop the next law the majority of the population is against because the core issue of having a group of people who have nothing but utter contempt for the citizens hasn't been addressed. As long as your government is controlled by people who think they are better than you and have no respect for you, the people will have no freedoms.

[@tja3495]

🎯 Well said, you stated the truth.

[@AffirmativeArtsOnTheRoad]

THE TWO TENNESSEE JUSTINS ARE THE VERY VERY FINEST LEADERS THAT THE US HAS EVER PRODUCED! WE MUST ALL SUPPORT THEM, TO THE MAXIMUM DEGREE WE CAN. SEND MONEY, SEND THANKS, SUPPORT THEIR VALUES AND IDEALS!

[@smartist-witin-Kintuckey]

*imagine using funds to buy crayons and not guns to keep the schools safe*

[@andrewstevenson118]

Excellent. Nice new material. 🙂

[@Schlemiel-Team-Six]

Mama said crayons are dangerous. You could put an eye out with 1 of them there things.

[@andrewstevenson118]

@@Schlemiel-Team-Six Duh. You're supposed to put them up your nose. 🤪

[@kaysera6566]

We can guess which districts will have the guns

[@TomMcBoston]

The people of TN elected and continue to elect these people to office, so this is what the majority of Tennesseans want.

[@Missunderstood103]

Moms, women removed from a public forum about them, directly affecting their lives. Gee, wonder Roe I've heard that before?🤔🤨🤨🤨

[@anothercitizen4867]

Under Tennessee Republicans “if you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face-forever.”

[@tiger7199]

Total absurdity.

[@maximilianemusterfrau1265]

Leading Republicans such as M. Green are chanting about "this is the people's house" when talking about congress. In TN they throw "We the People" out of their house because they are disagreeing and speaking out.

[@lingyjennifer8399]

Perhaps they're thinking that a teacher with a sawed-off sticking out of a back holster may get more respect, generally. I'm just not certain that kids (immortal and with the certitude of youth) will stop bugging their armed teacher, nor that the teacher will not lose it and...

[@MattHare714]

I honestly believe the best thing the safest thing for my family is to move out of the USA.

[@sumiland6445]

Madness

[@branevans3705]

Rep Pearson, I have a lot of respect for your continuous advocacy, on behalf of the people in your community. ❤

[@wingspan7679]

*Sooooo I wonder WHAT will happen WHEN these Teachers refuses??????Will their Rights be taken away WHEN they REFUSE??????*

[@deborahtaylor9714]

The TN representatives live in a bubble nd do not listen to us- their constituents. When I reach out to representatives, the patronizing and tone deaf responses are crazy. I hate that TN has been in the news consistently for the bad choices of our elected leaders, but I appreciate the public and national focus. Perhaps our shameless leaders will eventually feel some sort of shame so that they will listen to their constituents instead of the lobbyists. Thank you to Rep. Pierson for his voice and for standing up for us. You have a hard job.

[@MattHare714]

They forget that they are PUBLIC SERVANTS that’s it.

[@sistersnake4629]

Great episode great news coverage of this grotesque event

[@brucesmith3900]

These Republicans in Tennessee want the teachers to teach and enforce the law at the same time with this stupid and dangerous bill. They care nothing about the safety of the children. Even worse, how dare these Republicans try to silence and remove outraged parents from meetings who under the 1st Amendment have every right to speak their minds about the potential dangers their children could face if this bill gets passed. I hope every Republican who endorsed this bill gets voted out of their seats.

[@joeylynn1374]

They threw a pencil at me, and so I felt my life was in danger!

[@jamesswain2465]

Who did the shooting at The Covenant School? And why?

[@andrewstevenson118]

Explain further.

[@user-it8mt3zg9f]

@@andrewstevenson118jamesswain is trying to equate trans folks with mass shootings...which is exceeding rare compared to the number of white supremacist MAGA massacres that have been happening around this country.

[@wtfisthishandlebulIshit]

Why does that matter? Seriously? Learn about the law of averages.

[@jamesswain2465]

It was just a question, why does no one want to answer it?

[@wtfisthishandlebulIshit]

@@jamesswain2465 Why does it matter? What's the matter with you?

[@italex827]

The Engineer from TF2 is a smart guy. But the answer to this is not more gun.

[@marilyn8490]

Plus, the liability for those teachers packing guns would be through the roof. Unacceptable. "training" does not fix the negatives of this issue.

[@melaniebagshaw8539]

What on earth, Tennessee?

[@andrewstevenson118]

Sorry for the long post. Some people have suggested putting armed guards in US schools. There are about 100,000 schools in the US. (To make the maths easy.) Let’s assume we need a mean of four guards per school. More for larger ones (like universities) and fewer for smaller ones. Let’s pay them $50,000 per annum. This works out to about $20 billion annually. There have been 600 school shooting fatalities in the last 30 years. (Slightly fewer, but let’s make the maths easy.) So about 20 per year. So to save the life of each child or associated adult, that’s one billion dollars each. Yes? Shouldn’t the same apply to other children in deaths due to disease or abuse? Do you want to spend a billion dollars for each of those deaths? (That is, trying to prevent them.) Genuine question. Or is there a better way to reduce guns deaths in schools?

[@anthonymatthews3698]

Interesting way of looking at it. Unfortunately the GOP would rather treat the symptoms than treat the disease. Sad.

[@jerryjerry7561]

better education?

[@andrewstevenson118]

@@jerryjerry7561 Might help. Fewer guns, too. 🤪

[@jerryjerry7561]

@@andrewstevenson118 i would agree, except thats the very reason we have donald. putin cant put boots on the ground, everyone is armed.

[@andrewstevenson118]

@@jerryjerry7561 Nah. Not at all. The US Navy and Army and Marines are the reason. Not a bunch of hicks, poorly-trained, with SARs. Don't disrespect the military.

[@DKing-sc3nt]

Where does Memphis rank in crime? In 2022, around 2,420.86 violent crimes per 100,000 residents were reported in Memphis, Tennessee. This made Memphis the most dangerous city in the United States.

[@genesikora1353]

An ex-friend from Gleason, TN could not understand why I stopped access by him to me in WY. He is an automatic rifle owner and gun supporter. It is worse in this way in WY. Oh, but we all love the kids - we just refuse to listen to the parents, the teachers, the voters. Where do we go from here? Back to Trumponia? Not me. Vote Blue.

[@Hoser239]

If he IS an automatic rifle owner, then he possesses a Federal Firearms License, which means he has gone through a rigorous screening process. If he possesses a Semi-automatic rifle, he is well within his rights as an American Citizen, and you are either a fool or a charlatan. Vote Blue for Communism.

[@williamthurstoniii5]

Teachers today are too busy to be able to defend their students. They are also underpaid and overworked. Why doesn't the GOP increase teacher pay before making their jobs MORE DANGEROUS?

[@maysville3815]

Marsha Blackburn touts herself as being completely in touch with her constituents needs. Seems to me that isn't the case. Why not support Rep. Gloria Johnson. Maybe it's time for a change when your elected leaders stop representing your needs and put theirs first. Perhaps it's time for a new perspective in Congress for Tennessee. 💙 VOTE A FULL BLUE BALLOT FOR DEMOCRACY, WOMEN’S RIGHTS, VOTING RIGHTS, MAJORITY RULE & THE RULE OF LAW! 💙

[@elaineisabelle427]

Justin is an awesome legislator. Good job Justin.

[@miketan8190]

Well, those are the elected representatives

[@DKing-sc3nt]

Across the U.S. 68 percent of children live in a married-couple family. Forty-six percent of children in Memphis live with single parents.

[@jimdavison4077]

Only in the USA, complete lunacy.

[@johncobourne361]

Once you reach a point where you have more guns than people, the advantages of having a gun don't exist. If you have the only gun, people will leave you alone. If you and the other guy have a gun, you'll leave each other alone. If everyone and his dog have one, nobody's safe. Which is what you're seeing here....

[@yveeriksson7437]

If there is a new Uvalde, we can expect 50 policemen hiding and wondering why the teacher don't step in.

[@pamelaelliott6963]

Didn’t TN legislature just have a whole debate about changing the law to allow first cousins to marry? Priorities. 🤷‍♀️

[@patticriss2238]

It couldn’t be more fortuitous for the democrats. Keep talking.

[@lincolnlawyer9704]

Guns in school, what could go wrong?

[@cyberpixels]

Did they? Did the children really survive? The children will suffer PTSD for life! Who knows how this trauma will affect their life-decisions!?!?

[@carloszulu2651]

Tired, stressed out teachers with guns. It shows how much america loves children.

[@DaTooch_e]

Teachers have been crying for money to buy supplies for education for decades, but they have money for this?

[@owenokane9643]

What could go wrong? The Insane States of America. Running gun battles in school corridors and classrooms. It will make the Purge look tame.

[@rdlewis3616]

No wonder teachers are quitting in droves and there are few trained teachers to replace them.

[@countrygaming8367]

If anything happens then the state of tn will be responsible for a multi million dollar lawsuit! We all have tried to tell them that this was a bad idea!

[@CLee-hx8mx]

I cannot even listen to this horribly irresponsible bill.😢

[@derekmccrudden6528]

Vote them out