TN private school program puts armed volunteers on campus

ONEIDA, Tenn. (WATE) — After a shooter opened fire at a Minneapolis Catholic school Wednesday morning, private schools in East Tennessee are working to protect the safety of their students.  

It’s a situation Landmark Christian Academy’s principal Misty Blevins said hits too close to home, but she are hoping to combat with their “School Guardian” program.   

“A lot of schools, they say that they have these gun-free zones. This is a very non-gun-free zone. There are a lot of guns in this zone,” said LCA’s School Guardian Scott McNamara.  

After a 2023 mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, McNamara said he called Blevins to pitch the idea and volunteer. As a parent, the recent events in Minneapolis remind him why he decided to do so. 

“The first responder community is fantastic. But the amount of time it takes them to respond, the damage is already done, and we saw that in Minneapolis,” he said. “So having somebody outside that building that had the capability to dispatch that threat, it would have saved lives.”  

When it comes to school safety, Blevins said knowing somebody like McNamara is there gives her a sense of safety, not only as somebody who works in the building, but also as a parent of a student that goes here. 

“It’s nice having that peace. if somebody drops a book in the hallway, we’re not panicked. ‘was that gunfire!?’” Blevins said.  

As a private school, she said they don’t have the same School Resource Officers that public schools have and these school guardians are there to fill that role.  

“These aren’t paid professionals, so to speak, but they’re not random vigilantes off the street packing guns at our school either,” said Blevins. “They’re students’ parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles. They’re here just solely to protect the kids.”  

According to the school’s weapons policy, guardians must have a current Tennessee Enhanced Conceal Carry permit and their primary goal is to visibly deter a potential threat. 

“And if somebody were to come up here to do ill intent to the school, they’re going to have a really bad day,” said McNamara.  

Since the program started nearly three years ago, he said more people are volunteering to become school guardians.  

Both Scott County Sheriff’s Office and Oneida police are aware of the program. McNamara added that guardians never enter the building armed unless in the event of an emergency, and staff can conceal carry if they choose to.