ATLANTA – School officials in Georgia are refusing to arm teachers with guns, despite the approval of a new law that says it’s OK for educators to carry concealed weapons on campus.
The law, which takes effect July 1, expands where Georgia citizens can legally carry guns. As part of the law, each district has the option of arming teachers or staff; however, all carriers must complete a mandatory training course, KLTV.com reports.
Although school officials have expressed their support for people who legally carry guns, they noted that having weapons inside the schools doesn’t make students and safer and creates more problems.
Instead, some districts have chosen to rely on police officer to monitor schools and upgrade building security.
Rep. Alan Powell, who chairs the Georgia House of Representatives’ committee on public safety, has argued that weapon-free zones are targets.
Meanwhile, Rep. Paul Battles, who has supported this concept since 2012, stated that schools that cannot afford police officers should consider allows teachers to carry guns.