California School District Arming Teachers

A California school district voted this week to allow some teachers and staff to carry guns on campus; a move they say will provide "...a safe environment for students and staff members."

The Kingsburg Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees voted to approve a new policy on Monday for the small town near Fresno. This is only the second school district in the state to do so.

The policy allows for the school district's superintendent to designate no more than five district employees whom may carry a concealed firearm and ammunition at any given time. According to a board agenda, employees who wish to carry a weapon must fill out an application, and meet the following criteria:

1. The employee must be a lawful holder of a valid and current Carrying Concealed Weapons (CCW) issued by any California sheriff
2. This CCW must have no restrictions imposed by the issuing authority relative to possession on school grounds or public property
3. The employee must have completed a training designated by the superintendent
4. The employee must have completed any training program required by the Districts workers' compensation, liability or other insurance carrier, as those training requirements my change from time to time
5. The employee must have submitted a completed and signed Firearms Possession Application and Firearms Use Agreement

District documents also indicate the superintendent will take things like the employee's conduct, discipline record and evaluations into account when considering him or her for approval of carrying a gun on campus.

In October, Gov. Jerry Brown approved SB 707, which banned concealed firearms from school campuses. This will allow an exception to that law.

"Our world is changing and the risk of violence in our schools is changing too," Mike Elerick of the Public Safety Training Institute (PSTI) tells Patch. "School administrators and law enforcement are adapting to meet these risks."

Elerick says that though his organization— a nonprofit public safety training firm located in Northern California— does not advocate for or against armed educators, he thinks it is wise that schools have someone armed on campus, keeping the safety of kids as the primary focus.

“In this day and age, our highest recommendation is for the schools to partner with their local law enforcement to have School Resource Officers (armed security) on school grounds,” the 28-year law enforcement veteran says. “If this can’t happen due to cost, staffing or unavailable resources school must look for alternative solutions….Schools have a legal responsibility to protect our kids. For some schools arming some members of their staff may be an appropriate mitigation tool.”

ABC30 reports the policy, which was suggested to the district following the San Bernardino terrorist attack, will go into effect immediately.

What do YOU think about this policy? Is it a good or bad idea to allow teachers and staff to carry concealed firearms on campus? Tell us in the comments below!

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