The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill that makes it illegal to take a squirt gun — but not a real gun — within 150 feet of a school. The new ban was included in a larger bill that would nix any local laws prohibiting people with gun permits from taking guns to parks, reported The Tennessean.
The federal "Guns Free School Zones" act makes it illegal for anyone who doesn't have a permit from taking a gun within 1,000 feet of a school. If that person has a permit from the state in which the school is located, though, they can take the gun near school property, the law states.
"A person commits an offense who intentionally carries an explosive, explosive weapon, permanently disabled firearm, hoax device, imitation firearm, machete, or sword openly within one hundred fifty feet (150') of the real property that comprises the grounds or facilities of a public or private preschool, elementary school, middle school, or secondary school," the amendment states in part.
According to The Tennessean, the portion of law this bill changes also makes no reference to a ban on real guns within 150 feet of a school. The law does ban guns on property owned or used by a school, with several exceptions, including one for parents who keep a gun in their cars when they go to pick up their children.
