House panel approves bill allowing armed teachers
TALLAHASSEE —
Is the third time a charm for a proposal that would allow Florida teachers to pack heat?
Some members of the state House of Representatives hope so.
The controversial bill, which won the support of the House K-12 Education Subcommittee on Wednesday, is likely to move quickly in the lower chamber.
But it may struggle to win votes in the more moderate Senate — due largely to opposition from the teachers union and PTA.
The proposal (HB 19) would let schools superintendents designate employees or volunteers to carry concealed weapons on school property. Any designated individuals would have to have served in the military or law enforcement, and undergo special training from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
They would also need to hold concealed weapons permits.
State Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, says the measure would keep students and teachers safe in a school shooting.
“Most of our elementary schools do not have a school resource officer or anyone there that can respond to any type of armed threat,” Steube said. “So they are at the whim of a shooter until law enforcement officer gets there.”
Rep. Joe Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, said he would prefer to see a trained police officer assigned to every school in Florida.
“I don’t think an American Sniper approach is the way to protect our kids,” Geller said.
Lawmakers are also considering a proposal that would allow permitted individuals to carry concealed weapons on college campuses.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article13452050.html
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I'm with Geller. Teachers are underpaid and overworked enough as it is and now they're going to have to add armed security to their resumes.