WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:57 — 5.5MB)
Currently in Indiana, school boards can allow teachers to carry guns in school without any firearm training. Senate Bill 263 takes this one step further.
Senate Bill 263 states that a school staff member may carry a firearm in or on school property if: they complete a specialized weapons training or other firearm training, they provide proof of completion of the training to the school, and they complete the Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory 2 and provide the inventory results to the school board.
In addition, staff members who wish to carry a firearm must complete 16 hours of school-board-approved weapon training each year.
According to The Journal Gazette, one of the bill’s authors Chris Garten said, “In those instances, seconds matter. Increased reaction time…due to proper training leading up to tragedy will save lives.”
On February 5th, Senate Bill 263 was referred to the House. Just over a week ago, the bill had its first reading and was referred to the Committee of Education.
Moms Demand Action of Indiana, a grassroots movement fighting for protection against gun violence, showed up to oppose the bill.
Co-founder of the Bloomington branch, Rachel Guglielmo, stated that Moms Demand Action promotes public education and raises awareness around safe storage of firearms at the home, legislative work to promote sound gun policy, and working on elections to support candidates who promote safe gun legislation. When asked what her initial breaking point was that catapulted her to take a stand against gun violence in Indiana, Guglielmo answered: the Sandy Hook shooting.
According to Fox59, Senator Garten said, carrying a gun would be completely optional for teachers and this training may weed out people who find out they are uncomfortable with guns and cannot pass the training course. He said, “A vote against this bill is a vote to continue to allow untrained teachers to carry guns in our school and in our classrooms.”
Bloomington’s own, Senator Mark Stoops, voted against Senate Bill 263 in the beginning of the month in a bipartisan 42-to-7 vote.
Senator Stoops is working on a bill that would require safe storage of firearms. The bill states that gun owners could face up to two and a half years in prison if they do not keep guns locked and it causes injury or death.
In addition, Senator Stoops also wants to implement a new universal background check law.
According to Fox59, Senator Stoops said, “It actually fixes a loophole where private parties can buy and sell guns between themselves bypassing the background check requirement.”
Currently, only a few schools allow teachers to carry guns in Indiana and the state does not require training. Those in favor of Senate Bill 263 say it would make a current law safer, and those opposed say guns shouldn’t be in schools at all.
Senator Garten and Senator Stoops were not available for comments by the deadline. The House will hear the bill again a week from today.
For WFHB, I’m Alex Dederer.
