Tennessee Governor Bill Lee addressed the state on Tuesday evening after six individuals were killed in the massacre at The Covenant School in Nashville.

A 28-year-old woman who identified as a man killed three 9-year-old children and three adults at the elementary school, a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church, on Monday morning. Police officers revealed that the shooter, whom The Daily Wire will not name in accordance with company policy, executed a “targeted attack” on the school and had written a “manifesto.”

Lee said in a video address posted to social media that the state is grieving along with the parents and family members of the victims. “Some parents woke up without children,” he said. “Children woke up without parents, without teachers. Spouses woke up without their loved ones.”

Lee revealed that his own wife, Maria, was scheduled to have dinner on Monday evening with one of the victims, Cynthia Peak, who had worked at The Covenant School as a substitute teacher and was a lifelong friend of the first lady.

“Six innocent lives. Three of them were children. We’re enduring a very difficult moment. I understand there is pain, I understand the desperation to have answers, to place blame, to argue about a solution that could prevent this horrible tragedy,” Lee continued. “But this is not a time for hate or rage. That will not resolve or heal.”

Lee also praised the efforts of Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo, officers with the Metro Nashville Police Department who fired the fatal shots on the school shooter, and said he had the opportunity to speak with them. “While we saw the worst of humanity, we also saw the best of humanity: in the police officers who ran into danger directly toward a killer with no regard for their own lives,” he remarked. “Gratitude does not begin to cover it, for the utter selflessness of putting their lives between the killer and the innocent.”

The three students killed in the shooting were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, and Hallie Scruggs, the daughter of Covenant Presbyterian Church senior minister Chad Scruggs. In addition to Cynthia Peak, Dr. Katherine Koonce, the school’s 60-year-old principal, was also killed, as was 61-year-old school custodian Mike Hill.

Lee called on the state to pray for the families of the victims and for Covenant Presbyterian Church, as well as the officers and the family of the shooter. “Prayer is the first thing we should do, but it is not the only thing,” the official said. “There will be a time to talk about the legislation and budget proposals we have brought forward this year. And clearly, there is more work to do.”

“There is hope in the midst of great tragedy because God is a Redeemer. What is meant for evil can be turned for good. May we grieve in the days ahead, but not without hope. May we also act with wisdom, discernment, and grace. And may we love, especially those who have lost.”

The Covenant School said on its website that it exists to help children “become who God intends them to be” and learn “timeless Truth” throughout their educational experience. “Our graduates attend the finest schools in the Nashville area, where they not only excel academically, but also act with character that comes from authentic faith in Jesus.”

The California legislature may prevent K-12 schools from suspending or expelling students who are drunk or high, or in possession of illicit drugs or alcohol.

The proposed ban is outlined in Assembly Bill 599, from Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward. The Education Committee approved AB 599 last week unanimously; it now heads to the Appropriations Committee. 

The bill argued that students shouldn’t be expelled or suspended for being drunk or high because “high feelings of school connectedness can decrease drug use” — indicating that students should remain in that school environment, rather than being forced out, in order to prevent further drug or alcohol use. 

Ward characterized this ban as a “public health approach” in the bill language.

The bill would also require the California Department of Education to create a model policy by July 1, 2025 for addressing students in possession of and using illicit drugs on school property. A similar policymaking requirement would be imposed on local educational agencies, who would also have to provide resources for education, treatment, or support for substance abuse. 

Ward also replaced language in the bill referring to “he” or “she” with gender-neutral terms, like “the principal” or “the superintendent.” 

The California State Assembly advanced AB 599 out of the Education Committee last week. At the committee hearing, Ward stated that suspensions and expulsions for substance abuse played a role in reinforcing the school-to-prison pipeline. Ward further commented that his bill would result in a “more humane” approach to handling problematic students. 

Democratic Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, chair of the Education Committee and a former school board member, asked how to measure the effectiveness of zero-tolerance policies on drugs and alcohol in schools. 

Nora Lynn — the associate director of a public policy organization that co-authored the bill, Children Now — didn’t offer specific measurement criteria but claimed that the results of a zero-tolerance policy impact outweighed deterrence.

“We would just point to the very strongly disproportionate impacts on youth of color, young boys of color, and we feel like that far outweighs whatever deterrence there may be,” said Lynn. 

Muratsuchi challenged Lynn’s response, noting that she hadn’t provided any measurement criteria. Ward then stated that comparative data to prove his bill’s effectiveness would be available following the bill’s implementation. It appeared that Ward’s answer didn’t satisfy Muratsuchi.

“I would appreciate that our policy decisions be data-driven rather than based on impressions or anecdotes,” said Muratsuchi. 

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Lynn had also argued that suspensions and expulsions weren’t the appropriate response for drug infractions.

“This practice ostracizes students, reduces school connectedness, and increases the likelihood of drug use among disconnected students,” said Lynn.

Several other organizations co-authored the bill: the California Alliance of Child and Family Services (CACFS), California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN), and California Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (CALACAP).

CAYEN representative Danny Thirakul argued that minors’ “lived experiences” should dictate policy, and that punitive measures for alcohol or drug use was dangerous. Thirakul further argued that the response should be to have mental health professionals try and understand why the youth are using the substances.

“[Youth] want opportunities to safely evaluate their behaviors and make positive changes for themselves rather than being criminalized in a world where youth are experiencing a well-documented mental health crisis and opioid crisis,” said Thirakul. 

#AB599(@AsmChrisWard), our co-sponsored bill with @ChildrenNow,@_CAYEN_, & CalACAP, has passed out of the Asm Ed. Committee today! #CaLeg

This critical bill would promote a public health approach in schools to #SUD among our youth, instead of an expulsion or suspension. pic.twitter.com/iMs7xKDVih

— California Alliance of Child and Family Services (@CaAllianceKIDS) March 22, 2023

Others who signaled support for the bill included the American Lung Association, the California Alliance, AspiraNet California Coalition For Youth, and Mental Health America of California.

None spoke in opposition to the bill during the hearing.