A Pakistani teacher, newly armed as part of a recent law in the country, accidentally shot and killed a student on June 11.
Local police report the teacher was cleaning a gun in his classroom when he accidentally shot a fifth grade student. The teacher, who taught in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, is one of many teachers who began firearm training sessions after a law was quickly passed to arm teachers in December.
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The December law was a response to a Taliban attack on a Pakistani school earlier that month where gunmen slaughtered 150 teachers and students. After the tragedy many provinces rushed to arm teachers, ignoring public debate, according to the Washington Post.
The victim’s parents reportedly suspect the teacher shot their 12-year-old son out of malice, but police have so far refuted that claim.
Pakistani leaders have yet to make a statement regarding the incident or their stance on arming teachers despite some citizens’ criticisms of the new policy.
Campus Safety magazine has been closely following the “Guns on Campus‘ debate in the U.S. as several states are in varying stages of discussing bills that would arm teachers and allowing students to have guns on school grounds. Similar to Pakistan, pro-gun rights bills in the U.S. have found strong opposition from teachers’ associations in almost all states.