By Brandon Shields
When Jackson-Madison County Schools Superintendent Marlon King spoke to the Jackson Rotary Club on April 24, he was adamant in one statement that he made.
He opposes arming teachers in the classroom.
His statement was in response to the 68-28 vote the Tennessee General Assembly took the day before in passing a bill to allow teachers to be armed with guns in the classroom.
It was two days later when Gov. Bill Lee signed the bill into law. Later that day, Jackson-Madison County Schools published a one-page statement from King further detailing his opposition to the move.
“While the intention behind this decision may stem from a desire to enhance safety, I firmly believe that introducing firearms into our teachers/staff poses significant risks and challenges,” King said in the statement. “Our primary focus should always be on providing a nurturing and conducive learning environment where every individual feels safe and supported.
“I light of this, I want to reassure you that our district remains committed to prioritizing safety through proactive measures and collaboration with law enforcement agencies.”
Every Democrat and four Republican representatives voted against the measure. For Madison County’s representatives, Chris Todd (Republican-District 73) voted for it, and Johnny Shaw (Democrat-80) voted against it.
In the State Senate, Madison County’s Ed Jackson voted for it when the Senate passed the bill on April 9.
According to the bill, the school’s principal, the school district and local law enforcement would have to all approve of a teacher carrying in a class room.