Okla. School District Displays Signs to Deter Shooters

The signs inform visitors that some staff members at the school can legally carry guns.

An Oklahoma school district has begun putting signs on its campus warning visitors that some school staff members have concealed weapons.

Okay Public Schools, which has one K-8 school and a high school, has signs outside its school buildings warning that district staff members “can be legally armed and may use whatever force is necessary to protect our students.”

District Superintendent Charles McMahan says he hopes the signs make people who pose a threat think twice before entering school grounds, according to The Washington Post.

RELATED: How to Arm Campus Police without Community Backlash

The signs are an extension of a policy school officials decided on last year that allows certain school staff members that have received special training to carry guns on campus. The school policy was put into place after a law was passed in 2015 permitting the arming of teachers.

Okay, which has only 420 students, joins a number of other schools across the country that have allowed certain staff members to bring guns on campus. The majority of such schools are in rural areas and out of the immediate reach of first responders.

If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!

Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century

This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!

Get Our Newsletters
Campus Safety Conference promo