Bill To Arm Teachers Dies In Legislative Session

MONTGOMERY, AL - The Alabama House of Representatives opted not to debate a bill by Rep. Will Ainsworth of Guntersville that would allow teachers and school administrators to carry firearms in school after undergoing training.

Ainsworth said Wednesday that he believed he had the votes to narrowly clear a procedural hurdle and pass the legislation, but it faced time constraints and an expected filibuster. Ainsworth said many schools cannot afford to keep an armed law enforcement officer, known as a school resource officer, on campus. He said he and other lawmakers will sign a petition urging Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to call a special session this summer on school safety.

According to an Associated Press report, House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, in a statement signaling the bills demise, said, "I can offer a personal guarantee that this issue will be revisited when the Legislature convenes its next session.”

Another bill proposed in the wake of the Parkland, Florida school shooting in February also died in committee. This bill would have raised to age to purchase an AR-15 rifle and similar weapons to 21. The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee canceled a scheduled meeting after only four of the 11 members of the committee showed up for the meeting.

The 2018 legislative session will likely end without any type of gun control bill coming up for a vote, much less being passed. On March 14, schools throughout the state participated in a walkout honoring the 17 victims of the Florida shooting, and Saturday, Birmingham will host a March for our Lives rally in Railroad Park urging lawmakers to enact stricter gun laws.

Photo of Alabama School of Fine Arts students in the March 14 school walkout by Michael Seale