Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed a bill allowing teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns on public school grounds, Associated Press reports.
The law, effective immediately, requires approval from principals, school districts, and law enforcement agencies, along with handgun carry permits, background checks, and 40 hours of training for those wishing to carry guns. The law prohibits parents and teachers from knowing who is armed at schools. The legislation comes in response to last year’s deadly shooting at a Nashville elementary school.
The decision faced opposition from gun control advocates and families, and it remains uncertain whether any school districts will implement the policy. Some, like Metro Nashville Public Schools, prefer only allowing active-duty law enforcement to carry weapons on campus.
