Should teachers carry guns?

TOP OF MIND

Tennessee's solution to school shootings? More guns.
Earlier this month, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation that will allow teachers and school staff to be armed in school buildings. Under this new law, a local principal, education commissioner and sheriff must approve before any given teacher is allowed to carry.

In addition, the teachers will have to go through at least 40 hours of training, pass a psych evaluation, submit fingerprints and obtain a handgun permit.

One of the bill's major supporters, Republican state Rep. Ryan Williams, believes armed teachers will make schools safer.

The important bits
In March of 2023, a gunman shot and killed three students and three staff members at a private school in Tennessee. The shooting sparked a debate in the state on gun control, and at the time, there was bipartisan support for some form of gun control.

Gov. Lee initially urged lawmakers to pass a red flag law, which would have temporarily confiscated guns from people deemed a danger to themselves or others.

The bill never made it to the floor, and instead, the state opted to pass bills that expanded gun access.

Tennessee is not alone in this. Only 16 states prohibit teachers from carrying a firearm on school property. Those 16 states include California, Alabama, New York, Washington, Wisconsin, and more. You can view the full list here.

This means more than two-thirds of all U.S. states allow teachers to carry a firearm, with most requiring training and approval.

But not everyone agrees this makes schools safer. Elisa Mula, a security consultant, believes we're putting too much pressure on teachers.

And while the country will probably never agree on the topic of gun control, we can all agree on the fact that teachers should be paid more than they are now. Any job that requires a gun for protection deserves to be paid accordingly.

What's it all mean?
Gun control will always result in heated debate, but maybe we should stop arguing with each other, and instead, listen to our children?

DID YOU HEAR

♊️ Such a gem... ini!
Whether you believe in the power of your zodiac sign or not, it's always fun to see how you line up with everyone else. This fun article looked at how each zodiac sign is as a parent. According to the post, Geminis "prioritize" intellect, which means they often engage with their children in storytelling and creating a mentally stimulating atmosphere. Meanwhile, Virgos are organized and strict, demanding a tidy home. Check out all the signs here.

🤰 Paid time off for pregnant women coming soon?
Paid leave for prenatal care is set to become a national women's health initiative, thanks in large part to what's going on in New York. In April, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an amendment to New York labor law, requiring employers to provide up to 20 hours of paid leave in a 52-week period for pregnant employees to attend medical appointments and procedures. This will go into action in 2025, and other states might soon follow. 

💊 79% of parents admit to drugging their kids to sleep
According to results from a recent survey by the Sleep Doctor, 79% of parents have given their child a substance to help them sleep. 66% say they've used melatonin, 35% for Benadryl, 20% say they've used prescription sleep aids, and some other parents admitted to using CBD, THC, and even sips of alcohol. What ever happened to counting sheep?

💰 Are the most expensive products always better?
Ever find yourself gravitating toward the most expensive products? It's human nature to assume the more you spend on something, the better quality it will be. But according to this Wirecutter article, that's not always the case. They were nice enough to provide some cheaper (and better!) alternatives to high priced items.

Should grandma be celebrated on Mother's Day?
😯 These moms say heck no.

A DOSE OF GOOD

@an1cole33

this is too much

BITES WITH KIYAH

I want to be really clear about something: My kids eat sweets. Candy, ice cream, fruit, brownies, cookies … (If you’re following my Insta at all you know I can’t help but bake something sweet on the weekend). I don’t mind eating sugar in this form because it’s obvious: These are foods that are what they claim to be. It’s all the hidden sources of sugar that are insidious and end up contributing to over consumption. So how do you spot all those hidden, added sugars in foods where you don’t expect them?

Watch to learn:

kiyahduffey

View more on Instagram

Kiyah is the co-founder of Kizingo Kids and an expert in nutrition. Follow her on Instagram.

PARENTING WIN/FAIL

This week, loyal reader Samantha W. shares a Mother's Day nightmare...

Aw, we're sorry Samantha! That's terrible. We hope you feel better soon!

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked if you send your kid to school with a homemade lunch, and nearly 60% of you answered with "Always!" while 20% answered, "Sometimes, when I can!"

RECALLS

GOAT MILK FORMULA
Healthwest Minerals Inc, doing business as Mt. Capra Products, announced a small recall this past weekend. They're recalling just over 1,500 boxes of Goat Milk Formula Recipe Kit.

The FDA determined the product does not provide sufficient nutrition when used as infant formula. Apparently, the formula does not provide enough iron, which could result in infants developing iron deficiency anemia. At least one infant has been impacted by this recall.

For more information, click here.


ALSO, RAT REMAINS IN BREAD?
We don't believe we have many readers in Japan, but just in case, you may want to read about this Japanese bread recall. Apparently, consumers are finding rat remains inside the packs of bread. Yikes!