Rep. David Stevens is proposing that school teachers, who undergo special training, would be allowed to have a gun in a locked area of a school, including their classroom. The Arizona’s Attorney General’s Office is supporting the legislation first proposed by Tucson businessman.
Stevens’s bill is voluntary for school districts. Schools will be allowed to designate employees to receive weapons training and keep their weapons in a classroom lockbox or other secured spot on campuses. That includes teachers, principals or even school maintenance staff.
Stevens, R-Sierra Vista, told the Arizona Capitol Times that the training provisions and the voluntary nature of the proposed law gives school districts a way to add to security in case an incident that threatens children happens. “It’s something that school districts can use if they want to allow the schools to be defended.”
The plan would include a free 24-hour training course; providing training in stopping a deranged gunman, according to Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne.
TUSD’s superintendent, John Pedicone does not favor the law. Reports of weapons on TUSD campuses are rare, however just last month there were two reported incidents. In one incident, two Tucson High School students were involved in a shooting that landed a female student in the hospital. She was shot point blank in the head with a flare gun.
Earlier this month, a 16 year old student from Dysart High School was arrested by Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies for carrying a loaded weapon onto a school bus and campus and for allegedly making threats against a fellow student.
TUSD school board member, Michael Hicks says he supports the idea that school staff should be able to “adequately defend our most precious resources, our children, in areas where they are most vulnerable.” Hicks says he would prefer to see school resource officers on campuses, but recognizes the financial constraints.
Hicks, whose mother was shot and killed by his biological father when he was toddler, is sensitive to the vulnerability of children, and the need for kids to feel safe. “In an ideal world, kids and teachers would not have to fear being at school. It should be a place of peace and opportunity. Maybe this legislation will act as a deterrent and we can return to the business of learning.”
