News

Actions

Open letter to lawmakers gets thousands of signatures asking to not allow teachers to have guns in schools

Thousands ask lawmakers to not pass bill allowing teachers to have guns
Posted

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Thousands of Tennesseans want to stop lawmakers from moving forward with a bill that would allow teachers to bring guns into your child's classroom.

More than 4,400 signatures and counting are signed on an open letter to lawmakers, making the letter over 100 pages long.

The signatures are from teachers, school officials, parents, grandparents, pediatricians, psychologists, concerned residents, and more from counties across the state.

Sarah Shoop Neumann is the letter's author. She is the parent of a Covenant School shooting survivor. Her five year old son at the time was enrolled in pre-school at the Covenant School when the shooting happened last year.

The letter began circulating on social media and is still collecting signatures.

The bill that allows school staff and teachers to have guns on school grounds under certain conditions has already passed in the Senate and is now on hold in the House. However, its sponsor plans to move the bill forward before the legislative session ends any day now.

Blind woman entertains assisted living neighbors, plays seven instruments

“I’ve never met anyone like Tennie.”

That’s how one neighbor at Stones River Manor in Murfreesboro describes Tennie Fitzpatrick, who has mastered as many as seven different musical instruments. Each day, Tennie shares those talents with residents, workers and visitors. It’s an ability Tennie herself believes is “a gift from God.” That’s because Tennie is blind, and overcame a difficult, abusive childhood.  Forrest Sanders shares this truly inspirational story.

- Rhori Johnston

Sign up for our Morning E-mail Newsletter to receive the latest headlines in your inbox.