The decision follows a year after a tragic school shooting in Nashville claimed the lives of three children and three staff members. The bill will now advance to Republican Governor Bill Lee for consideration.

Lawmakers in the US state of Tennessee approved a law on Tuesday permitting teachers to carry concealed firearms in schools. The legislation passed by a 68-28 vote in Tennessee's Republican-controlled legislature, amidst protests from spectators in the gallery, who shouted, "Blood on your hands."

The bill now heads to Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, for consideration. Republican State Representative Ryan Williams, the bill's sponsor, argued, "What you're doing is you're creating a deterrent...we have had challenges as it relates to shootings." However, all Democrats and four Republicans opposed the measure.

Democratic State Representative Justin Jones criticized his Republican colleagues, accusing them of prioritizing the interests of the gun industry donors over public safety, deeming it "morally insane."

The law mandates that any individual desiring to carry a concealed handgun within a school must undergo a minimum of 40 hours of training in school policing, with an additional 40 hours of yearly training. Approval from school authorities is required for carrying firearms, and local law enforcement must be notified of the person's identity.

Approximately half of all states in the US permit teachers or other school staff to carry firearms on school premises, as reported by the Giffords Law Center, a gun safety advocacy group.

Tragically, school shootings have become increasingly frequent in recent years. The passage of the Tennessee bill follows just over a year after an assailant fatally shot three children and three staff members at a Nashville elementary school.