As the controversial bill requiring gun safety courses to be taught in Tennessee schools moves through the legislature, local voices are voicing their support.
Earlier this month Republican legislation, HB 2882, was introduced and would require gun safety curriculum to be added to the existing Tennessee Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) Act. Parents would not be able to opt their child out of training, and students could begin learning in grades as early as pre-K.
When the bill was announced, many opposed the proposal as it “accepts gun violence as school as a new normal,” while others believe it addresses the reality of how many children are actually exposed to guns.
Gun safety advocate Bennie Cobb said a lot has changed in terms of gun exposure from when he was growing up. As a child, Cobb said he knew of people who had guns, but they weren’t “as readily available” as they are now.
“I had very limited exposure to guns until I got into law enforcement,” Cobb said. “I was commander of the SWAT team, I taught training academy, and I had the honor of attending the FBI National Academy in Quantico. In my law enforcement experience I never saw guns being displayed or possessed to the extent that they are now.”
Cobb says this exposure has led to a lot of gun violence in the city; however, he believes guns themselves are not the issue, but the lack of education and “respect for the gun” is.
“We passed the permitless carry process in Tennessee several years ago and people are walking around with guns who don’t have any understanding, knowledge, and education about the safe handling of guns,” said Cobb. “Law enforcement is doing the best that they can with the resources that they have as far as violent crimes.”
After retiring from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Bennie Cobb opened Eagle Eye Security and Training Services, where he focuses on handgun training, self defense, and more. Through his business, Cobb has trained police officers and other members of law enforcement as well as local citizens.
“We also train young people in gun safety,” Cobb said. “We emphasize safe storage which is gun locks and safes to keep young people from getting their hands on guns. What we do is we try to educate as many people as we can, starting with the children.”
Cobb’s involvement with gun organizations such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) led him to finding out about the National African American Gun Association (NAAGA). This resulted in Cobb founding 901 Brothers And Sisters Keepers, the NAAGA chapter in Memphis, who are supporters of HB 2882.
Prior to founding the NAAGA chapter in Memphis, Cobb’s business focused on teaching young people about gun safety, which he funded out of his own pocket, as he had a vested interest as a father and a grandfather that future generations would have increased knowledge and education about gun safety and the dangers guns pose.
While Cobb emphasizes the importance of teaching gun safety to children, he also offers the same training to adults, as their involvement plays a large role as well. He said since kids can’t buy guns, they are often exposed to a gun that was left unattended by a family member.
“Most of them in [our training] had no knowledge about guns,” said Cobb. “This is more important now than ever before. We’re permitless carry, walking around with semi-automatic rifles. The weapon of choice is an AR-15 or AK-47 when the rap music used to be about glocks.”
Cobb said gun education is crucial due to the different “variables” that are available now. He said gun safety curriculum in schools should not be a “one-time deal” but a continuing thing from grade to grade.
“If you’re educating and introducing all these young people in the city and school system to gun education, gun safety, respecting the gun, not shooting anybody, it’s going to have an effect on those young people as they get older, and continuing education will help reduce the same gun violence that we’re seeing in the streets now.”