By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – On Tuesday evening, school board members heard from Zeb Proctor, who is with an organization called Tennessee Taking Action, which is a “Second Amendment organization here in Tennessee and also firearms education.”

Proctor said he was at the meeting to ask Director of Schools Jennifer Fields and the board to reconsider their decision barring educators and staff members to have the option to carry firearms, “in accordance with the new law HB-1202.”

TOP PHOTO: Citizen Zeb Proctor addressed the BOE on Tuesday, asking them to reconsider allowing teachers and school staff the option to carry firearms if properly trained.

According to Proctor, the “intent of the law is not to force anyone to carry”, but rather to allow them the option to carry if they have the set number of hours of training.

“Right now, we’re divided in this partisan political speak of are guns allowed in school. But no one is talking about the education aspect of it or the handling or safety of it.  I think there are a lot of solid teachers out there that would want to carry if they had the opportunity,” Proctor said.

He reiterated that teachers should at least have the option and that it is a “basic second amendment right.”

“If a staff member has that training and is willing to take that responsibility to carry, who are we to deny them as long as they are working with local law enforcement,” Proctor said.

He mentioned a program sponsored by Tennessee Taking Action called the Firearm Safety Scholarship and said it provides funding for firearm safety classes for educators.

Proctor told the board his organization had a “great relationship with local law instructors.”

“It’s become so political driven that teachers are afraid to speak their opinion … if we can trust them with our kids, then why can’t we trust them with the Second Amendment … at least give them the option,” Proctor said.

School board chair Steve Morgan said the board “recognizes this is a hot topic.”

“I do appreciate your presentation, and I do think we are open minded.  We have made a big commitment in our county with having law enforcement School Resource Officers in all our schools and with the sheriff’s department and what they have provided…We may not agree, but we all have a right to our opinion,” Morgan said, thanking Proctor for speaking. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/15/2024-6AM)

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