WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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The Indiana House of Represenatives passed a bill last week which would provide state funded firearms training for teachers in Indiana schools. House Bill 12-53 would only pertain to schools that allow teachers to carry firearms. Indiana law leaves it up to school boards to decide whether or not employees are permitted to carry firearms on school property. Seymour Republican Jim Lucas authored House Bill 12-53. The bill passed in the house last Monday on a 72 to 25 vote. District 62 representative Jeff Ellington voted in favor of the bill. House Bill 12-53 now goes to the state Senate. Bloomington Representatives Matt Pierce sided with Democrats in voting against the bill.
Parents and teachers are expressing concerns, as well as lawmakers. Terre Haute teacher and Indiana House Representative Tonya Pfaff, said she fears students may overpower a stressed teacher and take control of the firearm. She told the Statehouse File, “teachers just want to teach, so let them teach.”
Those who support the bill want to remind the public, the legislation is simply about training. Having a firearm is legal in Indiana. Supporters are saying if it’s already legal, teachers merely need proper training to use the firearms. One school district in Monon, Indiana, has already allowed members of the school board and administrators to carry firearms. Vice President of the North White school board cited the spread out, rural nature of the school district, meaning a prolonged law enforcement response in case of emergency.
This comes in the wake of President Donald J. Trump’s comments after the recent Parkland shooting in which, he claimed the arming of teachers was a reasonable solution to the rising number of school shootings in the US.
Those who disagree with the bill have started the hashtag ArmMeWith to demand access to mental health resources and updated school supplies in the realm of education, as opposed to guns.
