Evil walked through the front door of The Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn.

Not metaphorical evil. Not theoretical evil. But real, malevolent, deliberate evil — armed and armored, stalking the halls of a Christian school with calculated fury. The shooter shattered glass, fired round after round, and turned innocent lives into casualties. Three precious 9-year-olds. Three staff members. All murdered in the span of minutes.

The Covenant School massacre wasn’t just another tragic story in the news cycle. It was a flashing red light. A warning. A grim reminder that when evil comes for our children, it doesn’t politely knock — it breaks in. And unfortunately, in certain circumstances, there’s no one present to sufficiently challenge or stop it.

Right now, in North Carolina, state law prohibits even well-trained, licensed individuals from carrying a concealed handgun on private or Christian school campuses — even with the school’s explicit permission. This means these schools, many operating on limited budgets and unable to afford full-time security, are left vulnerable, as exposed and defenseless as fish in a barrel.

Two new bills — House Bill 193 — Firearm Law Revision and Senate Bill 280 — Private School Security Act — seek to change this.

Both bills would allow a person with a valid concealed handgun permit (or someone legally exempt from needing one) to carry a handgun on the property of a private K-12 school, but only under four conditions:

The school must be privately owned, used, or operated.

The person must be legally permitted to carry.

The school must not have posted signs prohibiting concealed carry.

The individual must have written permission from the person(s) in legal control of the property.

That’s it. There is no mandate or statewide requirement. These bills return the decision to local school leadership — to those who know their community best and are responsible for protecting their students.

Critics say, “We don’t want more guns in schools.” Understood. But this is not the real issue. In the current scenario, practically speaking, the guns are already there — they are just in the hands of the evil that walks through the door. Who will be there — someone good, courageous and trained — to meet that evil with necessary force, to confront and turn back its darkness? This is where the actual debate lies.

Others worry about the risk of accidents. However, concealed carry permit holders are among the most law-abiding citizens in the state. These aren’t vigilantes. They’re instructed, vetted individuals — often veterans, law enforcement or parents willing to stand in the gap when every minute, every second counts.

Still others say, “Just hire more security.” But many private and Christian schools lack the resources for a school resource officer. They rely on tuition and donations, not taxpayer funding. Why should they be denied the right to develop security policies that fit their needs? Quite frankly, it’s unconscionable to refuse them.

One of these proposals has already gained traction. On April 1, House Bill 193 passed the House Judiciary 2 Committee. That’s a meaningful step forward in restoring local control and empowering private schools to protect their students.

Consider carefully. We protect courthouses with armed officers, banks with armed guards, politicians with armed detail, and piles of cash and jewelry in armored trucks with firearms. Yet, some would hesitate to empower private and Christian schools to protect their most precious treasure, their children?

These bills — HB 193 and SB 280 — are before the North Carolina General Assembly and won’t solve every problem, but they are a very important and positive step forward. We don’t know when the next evil will walk through the door, but we know this: We have a solemn duty to ensure someone is there, ready, able and legally allowed to stand between that evil and the innocent.

When evil brings a gun, why can’t the good?

This editorial first appeared in the Greensboro News and Record.

The Rev. Mark Creech leads Government Relations for Return America, a Christian organization based in Wallburg, N.C.