As the discussion on school safety grows, the idea of arming teachers continues to get a lot of debate.
- President Donald Trump says gun-adept teachers should carry
- Some educators say they do not want to be armed
- Others say they would like to have training, says sheriff
- RELATED: Assault weapons ban may get hearing in Florida Senate, passage unlikely
President Donald Trump said this week that he is in favor of allowing gun-adept teachers to carry firearms on a voluntary basis.
Trump said only teachers with military or special training experience would be able to carry firearms.
I never said “give teachers guns” like was stated on Fake News @CNN & @NBC. What I said was to look at the possibility of giving “concealed guns to gun adept teachers with military or special training experience - only the best. 20% of teachers, a lot, would now be able to
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2018
I will be strongly pushing Comprehensive Background Checks with an emphasis on Mental Health. Raise age to 21 and end sale of Bump Stocks! Congress is in a mood to finally do something on this issue - I hope!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2018
The debate has sparked an online movement with teachers using the hashtag #ArmMeWith. They list things they would rather have than guns, like first grade teacher Lindsey Paull who wrote "arm me with books because six year olds need to learn to read, not be scared in class."
The day teachers are asked to carry guns in the classroom is the day I leave my dream job I’ve had since I was 16 years old. I don’t want to take away guns. I want control on them.#armmewith #enoughisenough #schoolsafetynow pic.twitter.com/XIHjWTSE7H
— Lindsey Paull (@Miss_Johnston5) February 21, 2018
The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 makes it illegal for anyone, except law enforcement, to possess a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.
However, many other teachers are showing interest to carry guns on school property. And in Ohio, Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones wrote on Twitter this week.
I am going to offer free concealed and Carry class free 2 teachers in butler county. Limited number. Details coming soon on line. Also training on school shootings.
— Richard K. Jones (@butlersheriff) February 18, 2018
Jones said he had 300 teachers sign up in just eight hours.
In Florida, State Senate President Joe Negron says he supports the idea of arming trained teachers.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has been pushing his idea called the Sentinel program that would allows teachers who want to be armed to go through specialized training, becoming partially deputized by sheriff's office.
What do we do when the active shooter shows up? One solution - seek out school staff who want to be “sentinels” on campus, who will protect the children. https://t.co/tazmb0CDVV <— click here to read more https://t.co/iee3r3iB7B
— Polk County Sheriff (@PolkCoSheriff) February 19, 2018
That would making them part of the exception to the Federal Gun Free School Zones Act that allows law enforcement officers to carry firearms on school property.