Tennessee Wants to Ban Teenages From PDA (Because It's a Gateway to Teen Pregnancy)

TN Lawmakers Want Classroom Hug Ban

Reported by: Eli Ross
Published: 4/27 10:27 pm

Updated: 4/30 1:10 pm



MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - A bill that could let parents sue teachers for their kids actions was waiting Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam's signature Friday night, after the house passed the "gateway sexual activity bill."

State Rep. John DeBerry (D-Memphis) delivered a fiery speech on Friday in support of the bill.

"We got laws where guys can out and make babies and all they got to do is take the baby to the 7-Eleven and leave the baby at the 7-Eleven, hey we'll get the baby and for the next 20 years we will pay for the baby," he said.

"What we are doing is creating a society where there is no consequences. We tell people they can do whatever they want to do, don't worry about it," he added. "We are all going to pick up the mess, you make your mess, we are going to come right behind you, we are going to clean up your mess."

Teacher's advocates say the bill adds to already overburdened teachers, while supporter of the bill say a student's mind should be the only thing being stimulated at school.

"I don't think it should be allowed anyway, why would you come to school to be kissing and doing all these unnecessary things," said Malon Dobbins.

"How can we stop kids from hugging and kissing when we at home, we can't really make them," said Shanika Batts, a mother of four.

The bill also requires teachers to "exclusively and emphatically" teach abstinence in the classroom.

"We got laws where guys can out and make babies and all they got to do is take the baby to the 7-Eleven and leave the baby at the 7-Eleven, hey we'll get the baby and for the next 20 years we will pay for the baby," he said.