Starting this January, the Keene School District in Texas will have a select few teachers armed with concealed handguns.
The new initiative, which follows suit with over 100 other districts in the state, will require specific training in handgun safety and active shooter scenarios.
School staff selected to be part of the “guardian program” must pass a psychological exam and a physical health test before being considered, according to a recent article from the Star-Telegram.
If a school staff member demonstrates an interest in the guardian program they’ll be required to pass a handgun license class, 20 hours of active shooter and safety training, and 80 hours of additional training. According to the Star Telegram, the training will be funded by the school district.
The selected employees will be registered with the district and must keep their handgun on them at all times during the school day. They won’t be storing them in cars in the parking lot or in locked gun safes.
This guardian program goes a long way to demonstrate the school district’s plan and investment in the safety of students and staff. When questioned on the safety of the practice of carrying handguns in school, the district can point to the extensive training requirements staff must go through.
As the new year approaches, it’s likely that school districts across the country are discussing their approach to school security. The concerns that many who are against the practice voice are ones of student safety.
Districts must address ways to prevent negligent discharge and student access to the staff firearms. Hours of safety training do much to prevent negligent actions by teachers and the hand-selection of carrying employees help to alleviate these problems.
The cost of these programs does head into the thousands of dollars, but district officials should hesitate to dispute the amount spent on student safety. Those in support of armed school staff say that anyone looking to target a school for violence must first recognize that they might encounter an armed teacher.
