TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida House committee approved a bill Wednesday that would allow trained officials to carry firearms in schools.
Sponsored by Greg Steube (R-Sarasota), HB 753 was approved in an 8-4 vote by the House Justice Appropriations committee. The legislation grants schools the option to appoint former or current law enforcement officers and former or current military officers with state legislated training to carry firearms on campus, Associated Press reports.
All officers would be required to attend 40 hours of school-safety training and eight hours of active shooter training annually. They would also need four hours of firearm qualification each year.
The officers would also be required to have a carry-and-conceal permit.
Representatives for the Florida School Board Association and Parent Teacher Association opposed the bill. Representatives of the PTA believe it would be better to invest in school resource officers and intervention programs.
The bill now goes to the Judiciary Committee.
