The bill was finalized ten days after a deadly attack on a school in Uwalde, Texas, in which a teenager armed with an AR-15 assault rifle killed 19 children and two teachers.
The state of Ohio is going to enact a law that will allow teachers and other staff to carry weapons in schools after first completing a “basic education program” lasting up to 24 hours.
Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online.
Critics, including teachers’ unions and Ohio’s largest police union, are sounding the alarm that schools are becoming more dangerous for children.
The bill was finalized ten days after a deadly attack on a school in Uwalde, Texas, in which a teenager armed with an AR-15 assault rifle killed 19 children and two teachers.
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has said he intends to sign the bill, which was approved by the (Republican-controlled) Ohio General Assembly this week. The bill was intended to overturn the Ohio Supreme Court ruling last year that teachers must complete a weapons training program for more than 700 hours before being allowed to carry weapons on school premises.
Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online. “In emergencies in our schools, seconds count and tragedies can be avoided,” said Republican Rep. Thomas Hall.
Armed teachers must undergo a criminal record check and complete eight hours of additional training each year.
The Ohio Teachers ‘Union and the Ohio Teachers’ Federation said in a joint statement that the bill was “hasty and dangerous.” “It puts teachers in an incredible position to make life and death decisions in fractions of a second without adequate education,” they said, adding that “it could undoubtedly lead to more tragedy in our schools.”
Under the new law, school districts will have to inform parents if they decide to allow teachers to carry weapons on school premises. It is unclear how many Ohio school districts would choose to allow teachers to be armed.
