Students who make school threats will be suspended for one year under new TN law

Tennessee students who make threats of mass violence against schools will be expelled for one year thanks to a new state law that establishes the act as a zero-tolerance offense in the state.

The state law went into effect July 1 after passing through the state legislature this past session.

“I think what we’re really doing is sending a message that says, ‘Hey, this is not a joke, this is not a joking matter, so don’t do this,’” the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol), said.

According to the Educator’s School Safety Network, school threats are a common problem in the U.S. The group reported 446 incidents of false threats against schools nationwide this past school year.

Read more: WKRN (Nashville, TN)