Democrats, nonprofit volunteer organization slam Republicans for lack of consistency over parental rights
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Parental choice for some things but not for everything.
“It’s really up to the individual type of legislation that we’re passing,” Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) said.
In the past week, lawmakers passed bills to force students to watch a video on abortion education which some medical experts say is inaccurate, learn about gun safety and allow teachers to carry guns in schools.
All of it comes with no parental opt-outs for the education bills nor any transparency for teachers carrying guns. In essence, parents can’t know if a teacher is carrying a gun unless the teacher discloses it.
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“I think it’d be best that people not know which teachers are armed and which aren’t,” McNally said. “If people know which teachers are armed, word could get out in the community. If somebody wanted to shoot up the school, they’d know which classes not to go into.”
But on other bills and laws, particularly around vaccine requirements and books, there are parental opt-outs, as Republicans have cited that parents need a choice.
A coalition of parents led by Rise and Shine Tennessee, a volunteer advocacy group, slammed what they say is clear hypocrisy.
“(Rep.) Gino Bulso, January 30th, K-12 Subcommittee: ‘Parents have the right to raise their kids with values that they want to raise them with,’” parent Erica Bowton said. “(House Majority Leader) William Lamberth, March 5th, Civil Justice Subcommittee: “A parent should be intricately involved with their child’s medical decisions and care.”
It didn’t just end with those two.
“(House Republican Caucus Chair) Jeremy Faison, March 19th, Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee: ‘Parents are the God-given authority of a child. They are the final arbiter. I don’t think a government official should be circumventing the parent to decide what’s right for that child,’’ Bowton said.
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Democrats joined that criticism earlier Wednesday.
“We won’t allow parents to take care of their children’s healthcare because someone’s got some agenda,” Rep. Bo Mitchell (D-Nashville) said. “But then, on the other hand, we’ll allow parents not to vaccinate their children.”
Republican leadership defended the bills, particularly the lack of transparency around which teachers are carrying guns in schools.
The sponsor, Sen. Paul Bailey (R-Sparta), sids the Dept. of Safety, the TBI, the Sheriff’s Association and Police Chiefs Association all signed off on the bill.
“They felt like that it is more important to have that confidentiality surrounding that person than to have a lot of transparency,” he said.
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But the coalition of parents pushed back on that.
“No question, they are hypocrites,” Bowton said. “They are directly cited saying parents are the arbiters of their child’s upbringing and healthcare and they get the final say in making healthcare decisions, but they’re denying us, as parents, the rights to do that.”
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