Two NC lawmakers draft guns-for-teachers bill for one Christian school, not even in their districts

Well, this is a headscratcher. While doing some citizen lobbying today at the N.C. General Assembly with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, we spoke with legislators about a bill filed earlier this week, H139. H139 would permit teachers and staff at certain private schools in Forsyth County, North Carolina, to possess and carry handguns on school grounds -- even in classrooms.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT AN EXECUTIVE HEAD AT ANY PRIVATE SCHOOL FUNDED EXCLUSIVELY WITH PRIVATE FUNDS AND LOCATED IN FORSYTH COUNTY MAY ADOPT A SCHOOL POLICY TO ALLOW CERTAIN SCHOOL EMPLOYEES TO POSSESS AND CARRY A HANDGUN ON THE EDUCATIONAL PROPERTY OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOL.

The bill is shrouded in mystery. Which private schools want to arm their teachers? Is it just one school, or more than one? Who made the request to the bill's sponsors, Rep. Debra Conrad (R-District 74, Forsyth Co.) and Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-District 75, Forsyth Co., and a former public school board member in Forsyth Co.)?

And why weren't the county's other NC House lawmakers, Rep. Evelyn Terry (D-District 71, Forsyth Co.) and Sen. Paul Lowe Jr. (D-District 32, Forsyth Co.), notified of the request for this bill? Oh. I see the reason for that. R = notification of bills affecting their districts; D = no notification of bills affecting their districts. Simple.

By this morning, it was announced that the private school in question is Salem Baptist Christian School, a privately funded school that teaches children in grades K-12. Their mission is simple:

THE MISSION OF SALEM BAPTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL is to challenge students to achieve in an academically excellent environment while nurturing their love for and service to God and others.

It should be noted that Salem Baptist Christian School is not in Rep. Conrad's district. It is not in Rep. Lambeth's district. It is, however, in both Rep. Terry's and Sen. Lowe's respective house and senate districts.

That's right: the bill is for one specific school, and that specific school doesn't lie within the districts of the two sponsors of the bill to arm teachers and staff at said school.