HARROLD, Texas – Officials at Harrold Independent School District officials think its best for its teachers and staff to carry guns when the school semester begins at the end of August.
Last October, trustees at the district approved a policy change to allow faculty and staff to carry concealed weapons to discourage school shootings.
Employees must obtain a Texas license to carry a concealed weapon. Additionally, they must be authorized by the district to carry a weapon; they must receive crisis management training and use ammunition that minimizes the risk of ricocheting bullets in the hallway.
The school district, which houses 110 students from kindergarten to 12th grade, is 30 minutes away from the sheriff’s office. Superintendent David Thweatt said that distance leaves students, staff and faculty without the proper protection.
It is unclear how many employees will carry the weapons.
Additionally, students at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and the University of Colorado (CU) are speaking out about the right to bear arms on campus. At CU, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus has been vocal about allowing those with permits to carry weapons on campus. However, CU officials believe that allowing gun permit holders to carry weapons on campus would be problematic.
At FAU, students are working on starting their own chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. The group currently has six members; however, 10 students and a faculty advisor are needed for the group to become an official club on campus.
The International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) recently released an updated statement opposing students carrying concealed weapons on campus. Click here to review the statement.
For more information:
- Texas School District Will Let Teachers Carry Guns
- CU to hear pitch for guns on campus
- FAU Student Group Pushes For Guns On Campus
Related Articles:
To subscribe to Campus Safety magazine, click here.